Synthesis of High Molar Mass Poly(phenylene methylene) Catalyzed by Tungsten(II) Compounds


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Date

2018-08

Publication Type

Journal Article

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yes

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Abstract

Poly(phenylene methylene)s (PPMs) with high molar masses were isolated by polymerization of benzyl chloride catalyzed with tungsten(II) compounds and subsequent fractionation. Four different tungsten(II) catalysts were successfully exploited for the polymerization, for which a strict temperature profile was developed. The PPMs possessed roughly a trimodal molar mass distribution. Simple fractionation by phase separation of 2-butanone solutions allowed to effectively segregate the products primarily into PPM of low molar mass (Mn = 1600 g mol−1) and high molar mass (Mn = 167,900 g mol−1); the latter can be obtained in large quantities up to 50 g. The evolution of the trimodal distribution and the monomer conversion was monitored by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and 1H NMR spectroscopy, respectively, over the course of the polymerization. The results revealed that polymerization proceeded via a chain-growth mechanism. This study illustrates a new approach to synthesize PPM with hitherto unknown high molar masses which opens the possibility to explore new applications, e.g., for temperature-resistant coatings, fluorescent coatings, barrier materials or optical materials.

Publication status

published

Editor

Book title

Journal / series

Volume

10 (8)

Pages / Article No.

881

Publisher

MDPI

Event

Edition / version

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Date collected

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Subject

Poly(phenylene methylene); Tungsten (II) catalysts; High molar mass; Fractionation; Chain-growth polymerization; Homoconjugation

Organisational unit

03763 - Niederberger, Markus / Niederberger, Markus check_circle

Notes

Funding

159719 - Systematic study towards high molar mass poly(phenylenemethylene): Synthesis, materials properties and processing (SNF)

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