The photo-induced degradations of tetraneopentylchromium and trimesitylchromium tetrahydrofuranate: some applications to catalysis

Photo-induced reactions of tetraneopentylchromium (I) and trimesitylchromium tetrahydrofuranate (II) have been investigated. Both I and II upon photolysis in solution function as active catalysts for the polymerization of vinyl monomers such as styrene, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and vinyl acetate, and also for the polymerization of ethylene under very mild conditions. Irradiation of I in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of carbon monoxide leads to the production of Cr(CO)₆ and Cr(CO)₅(THF), demonstrating that low valent chromium species are formed under these conditions.