6,6'-BISFUNCTIONALIZED 2,2'-BIPYRIDINES AS METALLO-SUPRAMOLECULAR INITIATORS FOR THE LIVING POLYMERIZATION OF OXAZOLINES

I){6,6'-bis(bromomethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine}(2)](PF6) complexes were used as metallo-supra molecular initiators for the polymerization of 2-oxa zolines resulting in defined polymers with a central 6,6'-disubstitute d 2,2'-bipyridine unit. The living character of the polymerization was demonstrated with the linear relationship between the weight-average molecular weight (M) over bar(W) and the [monomer]/[initiator] ratio a s well as in the synthesis of block copolymers. The metal ions could b e removed resulting in uncomplexed polymers with a free central metal binding unit.