POLYMERIZATION OF N-BENZYLPROPARGYLAMINE IN THE PRESENCE OF IONIC RHODIUM(I) COMPLEXES - A NEW FUNCTIONALIZED POLYACETYLENE - INVESTIGATION OF ITS CONDUCTING PROPERTIES

The polymerization reaction of N-benzylpropargylamine in the presence of rhodium complexes left bracket Rh(L-L)chel)X (L-L equals cycloocta-1,5-diene, 2,5-norbornadiene; chel equals 2,2 prime -bipyridine, 2,2 prime -bipyrazine, 2,2 prime -dipyridylamine; X equals PF** minus //6, ClO** minus //4, B(Ph)** minus //4) and methanolic NaOH as co-catalyst gave polymers with molecular weights between about 1000 and 4000. Similar results were obtained with the platinum bisacetylide complex left bracket Pt(C EQUVLNT CCH//2NHCH//2Ph)//2(PPh//3)//2 right bracket , which was, however, less active than the rhodium compounds. Infra-red and **1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the different products were studied. The polymers so formed are insulators, but their conductivity increases on doping by over several orders of magnitude.