Coupled homogeneous reactions polymerization

The methoxycarbonylmethyl radical I is obtained by Kolbe electrolysis from methyl-malonate [Eq. (4, path a)], and in homogeneous solution by reductive fragmentation of the hydroperoxide of dimethyl acetone dicarboxylate [Eq. (4, path b)]. Radical I forms with styrene the adduct II, which reacts by disproportionation to III and IV, by coupling with I to V and by dimerization to VI. The yields and product ratios for the electrolysis and the reductive fragmentation correspond surprisingly well, and no extensive polymerization was found for the homogeneous reaction. 

The cyclopropanation of 1-trimethylsilyloxycyclohexene in the present procedure is accomplished by reaction with diiodomethane and diethylzinc in ethyl ether." This modification of the usual Simmons-Smith reaction in which diiodomethane and activated zinc are used has the advantage of being homogeneous and is often more effective for the cyclopropanation of olefins such as enol ethers which polymerize readily. However, in the case of trimethylsilyl enol ethers, the heterogeneous procedures with either zinc-copper couple or zinc-silver couple are also successful. Attempts by the checkers to carry out Part B in benzene or toluene at reflux instead of ethyl ether afforded the trimethylsilyl ether of 2-methylenecyclohexanol, evidently owing to zinc iodide-catalyzed isomerization of the initially formed cyclopropyl ether. The preparation of l-trimethylsilyloxybicyclo[4.1.0]heptane by cyclopropanation with diethylzinc and chloroiodomethane in the presence of oxygen has been reported. "... 

CathodicaUy reduced hydrocarbons not only undergo homogeneous ET and nucleophilic attack but also coupling reactions resulting in hydrodimerization and polymerization. 

Evidence in support of a carbonium ion type of mechanism for low temperature polymerization was also obtained in an investigation of the kinetics of the homogeneous liquid phase polymerization of propene in the presence of aluminum bromide and hydrogen bromide at about —78° (Fontana and Kidder, 89). The rate of reaction is approximately proportional to the concentration of the promoter, no polymerization occurring in its absence. During the main portion of the reaction, the rate is independent of the monomer concentration toward the end, it decreases, due apparently to the low-concentration of the monomer, addition of more olefin resulting in an increase in the rate. It was concluded that the reaction involves an active complex, which may be regarded as a carbonium ion coupled with an anion ... 

This process has advantages in that the reaction is homogeneous and avoids the heterogeneous Na Wurtz coupling procedure, commonly used to polymerize chlorosilanes. 

In the previous chapters we discussed alkene-based homogeneous catalytic reactions such as hydrocarboxylation, hydroformylation, and polymerization. In this chapter we discuss a number of other homogeneous catalytic reactions where an alkene is one of the basic raw materials. The reactions that fall under this category are many. Some of the industrially important ones are isomerization, hydrogenation, di-, tri-, and oligomerization, metathesis, hydrocyana-tion, hydrosilylation, C-C coupling, and cyclopropanation. We have encountered most of the basic mechanistic steps involved in these reactions before. Insertions, carbenes, metallocycles, and p -allyl complexes are especially important for some of the reactions that we are about to discuss. 

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