SYNTHESIS OF POLYACETYLENE WITH TITANOCENE ALUMINUM-HYDRIDE CATALYSTS

Heterometallic hydride titanocene-aluminum complexes Cp(2)Ti(mu-H)(2)A lH(X) and (CP2Ti)(2)AlH(4)X are highly efficient homogeneous catalysts for acetylene polymerization. The binuclear complex of the compositio n Cp(2)Ti(mu-H)(2)AlH2 at 2.2-3.2 M concentrations in ether-toluene so lutions exhibits the maximum activity in this reaction. It is believed that the mechanisms of the isomerization of olefins and the polymeriz ation of acetylene are similar and, correspondingly, the compositions and structures of the active sites in both processes are close to each other. The polyacetylene formed with hydride catalysts (mostly the ci s-isomer) after doping with iodine has an electrical conductivity of 1 .5-2.0.10(4) Ohm(-1) cm(-1).