POLYMERIZATION OF PHENYLACETYLENES .10. POLYMERIZATION OF DIPHENYLACETYLENE BY WCL6-BASED AND MOCL5-BASED CATALYSTS

The polymerization of diphenylacetylene was investigated. The reaction was performed at 0—90°C in aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons. The catalysts used are a mixture of WCl and tetraphenyltin (W catalyst) and a mixture of MoCl, ethanol, and triethylaluminum (Mo catalyst). Polymerization smoothly proceeded by the W catalyst to give yellow insoluble poly-(diphenylacetylene) in high yield. The Mo catalyst also provided poly (diphenylacetylene), which is dark red and insoluble. The IR spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction showed that the former polymer was rich in trans structure and amorphous, and the latter rich in cis structure and crystalline. The electric conductivity and paramagnetic property of the polymer are also described. © 1979 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan.