Syntheses and properties of polymers from perchloro-p-xylene,perclorobi-p-tolyl,and perchloro-m-xylene with Fe(CO)5 as dechlorinating agent

We describe a new method for the polymerization of perchloroaromatic compounds using Fe(CO)₅ as a dechlorinating agent which allows the syntheses of perchloropoly-1,4-phenylene vinylene ( 8 ), perchloropoly-4,4'-biphenylene vinylene ( 9 ), and perchloropoly-1,3-phenylene vinylene ( 10 ) from perchloro-p-xylene ( 5 ), perchlorobi-p-tolyl ( 6 ), and perchloro-m-xylene ( 7 ), respectively. Polymer 10 , a new macromolecular chlorocarbon, was characterized by elemental analysis and infrared and ultraviolet spectra. The molecular weights (MW's) of the polymers were estimated by osmometry. The XPS spectra of these polymers are discussed. Their thermal properties were studied by thermogravimetry. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies and some preliminary conductivity measurements, made after doping the polymers with SbF₅, are reported. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.