Polymerization of phenylacetylene by molybdocene dichloride-organoaluminium compound catalyst system

The polymerisation of phenylacetylene was carried out by molybodocene dichl oride-organoaluminium catalyst system. This catalyst system was effective f or the polymerisation of phenylacetylene to give a relatively high yield of polymer. EtAlCl2 showed high cocatalytic activity for the polymerisation o f phenylacetylene by Cp2MoCl2. The resulting poly(phenylacetylene)s were ge nerally light-brown powders and soluble in common organic solvents. The pol ymer structure was characterised by various instrumental methods to be the conjugated polymer backbone structure having phenyl substituents. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.