Allene derivatives polymerization reactions

Cyclopropyl-substituted allenes open the door to yet another reaction mode. When treated with aryl iodides in the presence of a typical Heck-catalyst system and a dienophile, cyclohexene derivatives 77 were obtained (Scheme 11) [53,54]. Thus, the initially formed arylpalladium iodide car-bopalladates 72 to form a a-allylpalladium intermediate 73. It swiftly undergoes the cyclopropylcarbinyl to homoallyl rearrangement yielding the ho-moallylpalladium species 74 which finally suffers /1-hydride elimination. The thus formed 2-aryl-1,3,5-hexatrienes 75 are prone to undergo polymerization, but can be efficiently trapped by an appropriate dienophile at the least steri-... 

Carbozirconation. The presence of MAO is essential for the reaction of alkynes with the allylic zirconocene chlorides derived fixim allenes. The Lewis acid presumably enhances the carbozirconation of alkynes by promoting formation of cationic Zr species in the same manner as during the polymerization of a-olefins. 

Monomers Not Polymerizable by Plasma Initiation. When styrene and a-methy1styrene were subjected to plasma treatment, the monomers became yellowish and only trace amounts of insoluble films were formed. The discoloration was intensified and extensive formation of dark films were observed if carbon tetrachloride was added as the solvent. No post-polymerization was detectable for these monomers. Generally styrene and a-methylstyrene readily undergo thermal polymerization. However, no thermal polymerization was possible for these monomers after having been subjected to plasma treatment for one minute or less. It has been demonstrated from the emission spectra of glow discharge plasma of benzene (6) and its derivatives (7 ) that most of the reaction intermediates are phenyl or benzyl radicals which subsequently form a variety of compounds such as acetylene, methylacetylene, allene, fulvene, biphenyl, poly(p-phenylenes) and so forth. It is possible that styrene and a-methylstyrene also behave similarly, so that species from the monomer plasma are poor initiators for polymerization. 

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