Ruthenium acetylene polymers

Recent literature describes the synthesis of vinyl esters in the presence of platinum metal complexes. Complexes which have proven particularly suitable in this context are those of ruthenium (eq. (15)), such as, for example, cyclooc-tadienylruthenium halides [36], ruthenium carbonyl complexes, and ruthenium acetate complexes [37]. A characteristic feature of these is their high selectivity with regard to acetylene, so that the production of acetylene polymers is reduced. 

Internal acetylenes, Ni-mediated reactions, 10, 546 Internal alkenes, ethylene co-polymers, 4, 1145 Internal alkynes in alder-ene reaction, 10, 567 intermolecular hydrosilylation with ruthenium, 10, 802 with yttrium, 10, 801 silylboration, 9, 163 silylformylation, 11, 483... 

Supported platinum, rhodium, and ruthenium complex catalysts have been used extensively in the reaction of trisubstituted silanes with acetylene in the gas phase, predominantly in a continuous-flow apparatus. Formation of a polymer layer on the surface after immobilization of the platinum complex has protected the catalyst against leaching in long-term hydrosilylation tests [91]. 

The use of catalysts based on polymers with inverse temperature solubility, often copolymers of TV-isopropy-lacrylamide, to allow recovery by raising the temperature to precipitate the polymer for filtration,9 was mentioned in Chap. 5. The opposite, if the catalyst is soluble hot, but not cold, has also been used in ruthenium-catalyzed additions to the triple bonds of acetylenes (7.1).10 The long aliphatic tail of the phosphine ligand caused the catalyst to be insoluble at room temperature so that it could be recovered by filtration. There was no loss in yield or selectivity after seven cycles of use. A phosphine-modified poly(A-iso-propylacrylamide) in 90% aqueous ethanol/heptane has been used in the hydrogenation of 1-olefins.11 The mixture is biphasic at 22°C, but one phase at 70°C, at which the reaction takes place. This is still not ideal, because it takes energy to heat and cool, and it still uses flammable solvents. 

However, the reaction proceeded only under drastic conditions (pressure 700 upward to 900 atm) in the presence of mineral acids, BFg or metal halogenides. At that time metal carbonyls had been regarded as catalyst poisons. However, Reppe could prove that olefins react with carbon monoxide and water in the presence of metal carbonyls. The reaction products are saturated carboxylic acids. Whereas Ni(CO)4 is the preferred catalyst in the carbonylation of acetylenes, cobalt, rhodium and ruthenium catalysts are equivalent or superior in olefin carbonylation. Also palladium and hydrochloric acid containing catalyst systems are of special activity in hydrocarboxylation [469-471]. Iron has an accelerating effect [472]. Addition of boric acid to Ni or Co catalysts increases the catalyst life and suppresses the formation of insoluble polymer products [473]. 

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