A Possible Mechanism of Polymer Formation from α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds Under the Influence of Metathesis Catalytic Systems

Abstract

In 1983 we discovered a new reaction between an olefinic double bond and a carbonyl group which takes place in the presence of WCl6. We used this reaction to transform several α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds into substituted polyacetylenes [1]. The new reaction can be described, like the olefin metathesis, as a cleavage of double bonds and generation of new ones. The final result is a redistribution of atoms (C, O), connected with double bonds. We called this new reaction Carbonyl — Olefin Exchange Reaction (COER).