Rh(I)(2,5-norbornadiene)(biphenyl)(tris(4-fluorophenyl)phosphine): Synthesis, Characterization, and Application as an Initiator in the Stereoregular (Co)Polymerization of Phenylacetylenes

Nicholas Sheng Loong Tan, Gareth L. Nealon, Gemma F. Turner, Stephen A. Moggach, Mark I. Ogden, Massimiliano Massi, Andrew B. Lowe

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Web of Science)

Abstract

The synthesis of the Rh(I)-aryl complex, Rh(I)(nbd)(BiPh)(P(4-FC6H4)3) is reported and its efficacy as an initiator for the (co)polymerization of phenylacetylenes established. The X-ray crystal structure indicates that the complex adopts a slightly distorted square planar geometry whose purity and structure was also confirmed by elemental analysis and 1H, 13C, 31P, 19F, 103Rh, and 31P-103Rh{1H} HMQC NMR spectroscopy. We demonstrate that Rh(I)(nbd)(BiPh)(P(4-FC6H4)3) mediates the (co)polymerization of phenylacetylenes in a controlled fashion with initiation efficiencies as high as 0.98, as evidenced by the pseudo-first-order kinetic and number-average molecular weight versus conversion profiles. The ability to form well-defined AB diblock copolymers, in a stereoregular manner, by sequential monomer addition is verified in the block copolymerization of phenylacetylene with 4-fluorophenylacetylene with quantitative crossover efficiency, as determined by size exclusion chromatography.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)56-60
Number of pages5
JournalACS Macro Letters
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Jan 2020

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Rh(I)(2,5-norbornadiene)(biphenyl)(tris(4-fluorophenyl)phosphine): Synthesis, Characterization, and Application as an Initiator in the Stereoregular (Co)Polymerization of Phenylacetylenes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this