POLYMERIZATION OF HYDROXYALKYLACETYLENES BY TRANSITION-METAL CATALYSTS

The polymerization of hydroxyalkylacetylenes [HC=C(CH2)n-OH, n = 1-4) was carried out with various transition metal catalysts. Mo-based cata lysts and PdCl2 were very effective for the polymerization of hydroxya lkylacetylenes. The polymer yields generally decreased as the number o f methylene units between the hydroxy and acetylene functional groups increased from 1 to 4. Polymer solubility increased as the number of m ethylene units increased. The resulting polymers had a conjugated poly ene structure with linear hydroxyalkyl substituents. The resulting pol ymers were black or light-brown powders. The thermal properties were s tudied by thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction analysis data indicated that the polymers are mostly amorphous.