T. Szymanskabuzar, POLYMERIZATION OF PHENYLACETYLENE BY LEWIS-ACID ACTIVATED TUNGSTEN CARBONYL-COMPLEXES, Journal of molecular catalysis, 93(2), 1994, pp. 137-147
Several tungsten carbonyl complexes: W(CO)6, [NEt4][W(CO)5Cl], [W(CO)4
) (CH3CN)2], [W(CO)4(pip)2], [W(CO)4(bpy)], [W(CO)4(dppe)] and [WCl2(C
O)3(PPh3)2] exhibit catalytic activity towards polymerization of pheny
lacetylene (PA) in the presence of ZrCl4. They cause PA to polymerize
under mild conditions, giving soluble, high molecular weight polymers
in good yields. An active carbene-containing catalyst can be generated
from a simple carbonyl complex and free alkyne via the alkyne to viny
lidene rearrangement.