Transition-metal-free controlled polymerization for poly(p-aryleneethynylene)s?

Chemical Science Pub Date: 2014-10-29 DOI: 10.1039/C4SC02872D

Abstract

A transition-metal-free controlled polymerization for the attainment of poly(p-aryleneethynylene)s is developed. The polymerization of 1-pentafluorophenyl-4-[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]benzene with a catalytic amount of fluoride anions proceeds in a chain-growth-like manner to afford polymers with controlled molecular weights and low polydispersity indexes. The mechanism involves a pentacoordinated fluorosilicate as a key intermediate. The anionic “l(fā)iving” nature of this process is applied to block copolymerization and also surface-terminated polymerization.

Graphical abstract: Transition-metal-free controlled polymerization for poly(p-aryleneethynylene)s
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