SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF POLY(PHENYL PROPARGYL ETHER) AND ITS HOMOLOGS

Various para-substituted phenyl propargyl ethers (substitutent = H, OM e, and CN) were synthesized and polymerized by transition metal cataly st systems including MoCl5, WCl6, and PdCl2. The catalytic activity of MoCl5-based catalysts was greater than that of WCl6-based catalysts f or the present polymerization. The polymer yield increased in the foll owing order: H > OMe > CN, according to substitutents. The poly-(pheny l propargyl ether) [poly(PPE)] and poly(methoxy phenyl propargyl ether ) [poly(OMe-PPE)] obtained are completely soluble in various organic s olvents such as chloroform, methylene chloride, THF, and 1,4-dioxane. However, poly(cyanophenyl propargyl ether) [poly(CN-PPE)] is partially soluble in various organic solvents such as those mentioned above. Th e electrical conductivities of the undoped and iodine-doped polymers a nd found to be about 10(-13) and 10(-4)-10(-5) S/cm, respectively. The solubilities, thermal properties, and morphologies of the resulting p olymers were also studied.