POLYMERIZATION OF PHENYLACETYLENE INITIATED BY TUNGSTEN CARBENE COMPLEX

Polymerization of phenylacetylene initiated by tungsten carbene complex 4 was investigated in various conditions. The rate of polymerization in polar solvents (such as CH2Cl2) were found to be slower than those in nonpolar solvents (such as n-hexane). The higher the polymerization temperature and the lower the initiator concentration, the higher molar mass was obtained. Kinetic orders, apparent rate constants and thermodynamic parameters were determined. Mechanism for initiation and propagation reactions are proposed based on the experimental results. IR and NMR spectra show predominant characteristic of trans structure in poly(phenylacetylene).