Copolymerization of 4-methyl-2-pentyne with 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne and 1-trimethylgermyl-1-propyne with Nb-containing catalysts

It has been shown that the copolymerization of 4-methyl-2-pentyne with 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne or 1-trimethylgermyl-1-propyne with the use of niobium pentachloride-based catalytic systems in the presence of Ph₃Bi, Et₃SiH, and Bu₄Sn as cocatalysts yields corresponding copolymers of various compositions. The technique of determining the composition of copolymers from their IR spectra has been developed. The reactivity ratios of the monomers have been estimated. It has been demonstrated that these values increase in a sequence 4-methyl-2-pentyne > 1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne > 1-trimethylgermyl-1-propyne.