One-pot Synthesis of End-functionalized Conjugated Polymers by Combined Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET) Polymerization Using Molybdenum Catalyst with Wittig-type Coupling

Abstract

Precise, one-pot synthesis of end-functionalized conjugated polymers, poly(9,9-di-n-octyl-fluorene vinylene)s (PFVs), have been prepared by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization followed by Wittig-type coupling with aldehyde in the presence of molybdenum-alkylidene catalyst, Mo(CHMe₂Ph)(N-2,6-Me₂C₆H₃)[OC(CH₃)(CF₃)₂]₂ (Mo cat.). Further addition of Mo cat. after the ADMET polymerization was necessary for completion of olefin metathesis (with the vinyl chain end) and for exclusive end-functionalization by the subsequent coupling. Various end-functionalities could be introduced without purification or isolation by this one-pot methodology.