Binuclear initiators for the telechelic synthesis of elastomeric polyolefins

J Am Chem Soc. 2010 Oct 6;132(39):13869-78. doi: 10.1021/ja1056938.

Abstract

Novel binuclear complexes, 4,4'-bis{[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)propanamidato-κ(2)-N,O-(trimethylphosphine)nickel(II)]methyl}-1,1'-biphenyl (2a) and 4,4'-bis{[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)-4-methylpentamidato-κ(2)-N,O-(trimethylphosphine)nickel(II)]methyl}-1,1'-biphenyl (2b), were synthesized by linking two nickel centers through a bis(benzyl) fragment. When activated with nickel bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene) (Ni(COD)(2)), 2a and 2b are capable of polymerizing ethylene in a quasi-living fashion, producing polymers with approximately twice the molecular weights relative to those obtained by using a structurally related mononuclear system. In addition, 2b/Ni(COD)(2) was utilized to synthesize a series of pseudo-triblock polyethylene (PE) macroinitiating copolymers, bearing atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators. Pseudo-pentablock copolymers were also prepared by taking advantage of a pressure-pulsing technique, wherein the ethylene pressure was increased from 100 to 500 psi in order to produce semicrystalline ethylene-rich end-blocks. Copolymers with elastomeric properties were synthesized by grafting n-butyl acrylate from the PE macroinitiators via ATRP. Examination using monotonic and step-cyclic stress-strain tests demonstrates that the materials exhibit large strains at break (1600-2000%) and excellent elastic recoveries at large strains (∼80%). That materials with such desirable properties could not be attained using a mononuclear initiator demonstrates the clear advantage of growing the polymer via a telechelic mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nickel / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Polyenes / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Polyenes
  • Nickel
  • PL 732