A Reductive homo-coupling polymerization of aromatic diisocyanates promoted by samarium iodide

The selective reductive homo-coupling polymerization of aromatic diisocyanates via one-electron transfer promoted by samarium iodide in the presence of hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) produced the corresponding poly(oxamide)s ( 1 ) nearly quantitatively. The ob-tained polymers were insoluble in common organic solvents. The alkylation of 1 with methyl iodide or allyl bromide in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide provided the highly soluble alkylated polymer in good yields. In either case, the alkylation was almost complete, and both N-and O-alkylation proceeded. The ratio of N-and O-methylation was found to be 64 : 36 by ¹H-NMR spectrum, and that of N- and O-allylation was 3 : 1 from ¹³C-NMR analysis. The present polymerization system could be applied to a variety of diisocyanates, including diphenylmethanediisocyanate (MDI), tolylene 2,6-diisocyanate (TDI), 2,6-naphthyl diisocyanate (NDI) and o-tolidine diisocyanate (TODI). The molecular weights of the polymers were estimated by GPC and found to be 2000–9000. The TGA measurement of the corresponding polymers showed T_d10 at 248–320°C. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.