POLYMERIZATION OF P-NITROPHENYLACETYLENE WITH METATHESIS CATALYSTS - PHOTOELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF PHENYLACETYLENE P-NITROPHENYLACETYLENE COPOLYMER/

Preparation of substituted acetylene polymers carrying nitro group is reported for the first time. Homopolymers of p-nitrophenylacetylene (N PA) and its copolymer with phenylacetylene (PA) have been prepared by polymerizations induced by WOCl4/3Me(4)Sn as a catalyst in benzene and benzene/dioxane as solvents. WOCl4 alone does not polymerize, oligome rize and/or cyclotrimerize NPA. The two-component catalysts WOCl4/2Ph( 4)Sn and MoOCl4/3 Me4Sn produce low amounts of oligomers only. The hom opolymer of NPA is insoluble, whereas the copolymer containing one NPA unit per 4.38 units of PA is soluble in aromatic solvents and THE The IR and NMR spectra of the homopolymer and the IR spectrum of the copo lymer are reported. The photoconductive properties of the copolymer ar e also reported and compared with those of poly(PA). Introduction of N O2 groups onto polymer chains was found to increase the quantum effici ency of charge carrier photogeneration but to deteriorate the charge c arrier transport properties of the polymer.