Chain-growth cycloaddition polymerization via a catalytic alkyne [2 + 2 + 2] cyclotrimerization reaction and its application to one-shot spontaneous block copolymerization

A cobalt-catalyzed alkyne 2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction has been applied to polymerizations yielding linear polymers via selective cross-cyclotrimerization of yne-diyne monomers, which occurs in a chain-growth manner. Additionally, through control of the alkyne reactivity of the two monomers, this method was efficiently applied to the spontaneous block copolymerization of their mixture. Here we present the proposed mechanism of the catalyst transfer process of this cycloaddition polymerization.