Transition metal acetylide catalysts for polymerization of polar alkynes

A new series of single-component air-stable transition metal acetylide cata lysts with the structures ML2(C=CR)(2) (M=Ni and Pd, L=PPh3 and PBu3, R=p-C 6H4C=CH, C6H5, H, CH2OH, CH2OCOCH3, CH2OCOC6H5 and CH2OCOC6H4OH-o) for poly merization of polar alkynes were developed. Transition metals, phosphine an d alkynyl ligands and solvents exhibited significant influence on the polym erization. Propargyl alcohol could be polymerized with these catalysts unde r mild conditions to give soluble rich-trans polymers with weight average m olecular weights as high as 5.7x10(4) in yields as high as 79%.