Synthesis of a poly acetylene derivative carrying a highly bulky substituent: Polymerization of propargyltriphenylphosphonium-tetraphenyl borate by transition metal catalysts

Abstract

The polymerization of an acetylene derivative having a highly bulky substituent, propargyl-triphenylphosphonium-tetraphenylborate, was carried out by transition metal catalysts. Most of these catalysts were effective for this polymerization to give a high yield of polymer. The best result was obtained when the WCl 6-EtAlCl 2 catalyst system was used. Instrumental analyses using NMR, IR and UV-visible spectroscopies and elemental analyses indicated that the resulting polymer had a conjugated polymer backbone carrying a highly bulky substituent. The polymers were a yellow or brown powder and completely soluble in acetone, formic acid, DMF, nitrobenzene, etc. Thermal and morphological properties of the polymers were also obtained.