ADMET with tungsten catalysts

Several early attempts at ADMET polymerization were made with classical olefin metathesis catalysts [57-59]. The first successful attempt was the ADMET polymerizations of 1,9-decadiene and 1,5-hexadiene with the WClg/EtAlf l,. catalyst mixture [60]. As mentioned in the introduction, the active catalytic entities in these reactions are ill-defined and not spectroscopically identifiable. Ethylene was trapped from the reaction mixture and identified. In addition to the expected ADMET polymers, intractable materials were observed, which were presumed to be the result of vinyl polymerization of the diene to produce crosslinked polymer. Addition to double bonds is a common side reaction promoted by classical olefin metathesis catalysts. Indeed, reaction of styrene with this catalyst mixture and even wifh WCl, alone led to polystyrene. Years later, classical catalysts were revisited in fhe context of producing tin-containing ADMET polymers wifh tungsten phenoxide catalysts [61], Alkyl tin reagents have long been known to act as co-catalysts in classical metathesis catalyst mixtures, and in this case the tin-containing monomer acted as monomer and cocatalyst [62]. Monomers with less than three methylene spacers between the olefin and tin atoms did not polymerize (Scheme 6.14). 

Because ADMET polymerization of allylic-substituted dienes was not possible with Schrock s tungsten catalysts, and only somewhat successful with [Mo]2 and... 

Ethers were the first functionalized dienes to be polymerized successfully by ADMET [74]. It was found, however, that at least three methylene spacers between the oxygen atom and the olefin were required for successful polymerization with Schrock s catalysts. The resultant polymers were cross-linkable by both chemical and photochemical means [75]. Both [Mo]2 and [W]l were capable of producing the polymer, but polymerization with the molybdenum catalyst proceeded at a rate roughly 10 times faster than that with the tungsten catalyst [76]. ADMET polymerization of diallyl ether was attempted with both [Mo]2 and [Ru]l, resulting in a low molecular weight polymer. The major reaction product for both catalysts is 2,5-dihydrofuran, the result of RCM (Figure 13.6). Divinyl ether was not metathesis-active with any of Schrock s catalysts. 

These limitations were overcome with the introduction of the well-defined, single-component tungsten and molybdenum (14) alkylidenes in 1990. (Fig. 8.4).7 Schrock s discoveiy revolutionized the metathesis field and vastly increased die utility of this reaction. The Schrock alkylidenes are particularly reactive species, have no side reactions, and are quite effective as polymerization catalysts for both ROMP and ADMET. Due to the oxophilicity of molybdenum, these alkylidenes are moisture and air sensitive, so all reactions using these catalysts must be performed under anaerobic conditions, requiring Schlenk and/or glovebox techniques. 

Acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of divinyl benzene, shown in Scheme 37, using an extremely reactive tungsten alkylidene catalyst (Schrock s catalyst) yielded PPV oligomers with DP of 8 [153]. In this example ethylene is formed as a side product of metathesis, and its removal by the use of high vacuum helps drive the polymerization in the forward direction. 

The proposed idea that metal alkyhdene complexes are be able to catalyze olefin metathesis was confirmed in 1980 [8] and consolidated in 1986 by Schrock with the development of the first well-characterized, highly active, neutral tungsten (Cl, Fig. 3) [9] and molybdenum (C2) [10] alkylidene complexes. These complexes were able to catalyze both the metathesis of different olefins and the ROMP of functionalized norbomene to polynorbomene with low polydispersities [11]. Moreover, these catalysts were used by Wagener and coworkers to perform the first quantitative ADMET polymerization [12] and copolymerization [13] of 1,5-hexadiene and 1,9-decadiene. However, the low stability of these catalysts in... 

Scheme 5 suggests that every step of the ADMET polymerization cycle is in equilibrium and that, by shifting the relative concentrations of the condensate and polymer, depolymerization would result. In fact it has been shown that various unsaturated polymers can be depolymerized with excess ethylene, as well as substituted ethylenes. These depolymerizations can be done either with the tungsten or the molybdenum versions of Schrock s catalyst. 

The molybdenum catalyst 2 has been used extensively for ADMET polymerization. This complex is easier to handle than the tungsten analog and is more tolerant of functionality. This complex has allowed the synthesis of polymers containing esters, carbonates, ethers, sulfides, aromatic amines, boronates, dichlorosilanes, siloxanes, acetals, and conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds [38-45]. Aldehydes, ketones, and protic functionahty are not tolerated. The molybdenum alkylidene will react with aldehydes and ketones, but not esters, in a Wittig fashion [64]. 

The same acidic chloroaluminate ionic liquids have been used as solvent for tungsten aryl oxide complexes for the metathesis of alkenes [24]. Slightly acidic chloroaluminates also dissolve the [Cl2W=NPh(PMe3)3] complex which catalyze ethene oligomerization without the addition of co-catalysts [25]. In a similar way, Ni-catalyzed 1-butene dimerization into linear octenes was carried out in acidic chloroaluminates buffered with small amount of weak bases [26]. Neutral chloroaluminates (l-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride/AlCl3 = 1) were employed to immobilize ruthenium carbene complexes for biphasic ADMET (acyclic diene metathesis) polymerization of an acyclic diene ester [27]. 

The first successful ADMET polymerisation was reported by Wagener and colleagues [28]. They polymerised 1,5-hexadiene and 1,9-decadiene to 1,4-polybutadiene [with a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 28 kDa] and polyoctenylene (Mw = 108 kDa), respectively, using a tungsten-based catalyst that required extremely dry conditions to avoid side reactions. Recent advances in the development of very active and stable catalysts now allow the synthesis of various polymer architectures with relative ease. 

TABLE 6. Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of 1,9-decadiene (a), 1,13-tetradecadiene (b) and l,3-di(5-hexenyl)-l,l,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (c) with homogeneous and heterogeneous tungsten(VI) catalysts under normal and reduced pressure ... 

In 2000, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for the discovery and development of conducting polymers, and the conversion of polyacetylene to a conducting material was integral in this effort [151]. Oligomeric polyacetylene has been produced via ADMET polymerization of 2,4-hexadiene with both Schrock s tungsten and molybdenum catalysts [63a]. Similarly, oligomers were also formed by ADMET polymerization of 2,4,6-octatriene, although no polymer resulted from the reaction of either 1,3-butadiene or 1,3,5-hexadiene. 

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