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

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), (PhCdropCPh)(3)Mo(CO), (acac)(2)MoO2/AlEt3) was investigated in the presence of 4-chlorophenol or 2-fluorophenol. Upon heating to 105-130 degreesC, 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)(2)MoO2, AlEt3 and 2-fluorophenol. This catalyst combination gives high molecular weight PPEs after 6 h at 105 degreesC. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.