A study of molybdenum catalysts in the polymerization of 2,5-didodecyl-1,4-dipropynylbenzene

Abstract

The reaction of 2,5-didodecyl-1,4-dipropynylbenzene with different molybdenum sources (Mo(CO) 6, norbornadiene-Mo(CO) 4, cyclooctadiene-Mo(CO) 4, cycloheptatriene-Mo(CO) 3, (PhC CPh) 3Mo(CO), (acac) 2MoO 2/AlEt 3) was investigated in the presence of 4-chlorophenol or 2-fluorophenol. Upon heating to 105–130 °C, the formation of didodecyl-PPE resulted. The degree of polymerization of the PPE is dependent on the used phenol and to the utilized molybdenum precursor. The most active catalyst forms from (acac) 2MoO 2, AlEt 3 and 2-fluorophenol. This catalyst combination gives high molecular weight PPEs after 6 h at 105 °C.