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Phosphaacetylene
Chemistry
Phosphaacetylenes, RCP, are known to
behave more like acetylenes, RCCR, than their isoelectronic cyanides, RCN.
This includes reactivity through electrophilic addition to the C-P pi bond
rather than nucleophilic addition of the phosphorus lone pair to other electrophiles.
Phosphaacetylenes have been shown to be more reactive than their hydrocarbon
analogues; spontaneous polymerization of phosphaacetylenes with small R
groups (R = H, Methyl, Phenyl) was been reported. However, the structure
of the resulting polymers had not been ascertained. Our first effort in
this area was to study the spontaneous or thermally induced polymerization
of phenylphosphaacetylene, PhCP, determine if catalytic polymerization were
possible, and characterize the resulting polymer(s). Our second effort focussed
on the catalytic polymerization of phosphaacetylenes that are kinetically
stabilized against autopolymerization with sterically bulky substituents.
The chemistry of metal alkylidene catalysts with phosphaacetylenes afforded
some unexpected products that may eventually allow polymerization catalysts
to be designed and prepared.
Contact: Doug Loy
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