A Vanadium(V) Alkylidene Complex Exhibiting Remarkable Catalytic Activity for Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Abstract

The vanadium(V) alkylidene complex (ArN)V(CHSiMe3)(NCtBu2)(PMe3) (6; Ar = 2,6-Me2C6H3) has been isolated from (ArN)V(CH2SiMe3)2(NCtBu2) (5) by α-hydrogen elimination in benzene-d6 at 80 °C. The complex 6 initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornene, yielding a high-molecular-weight polymer with unimodal molecular weight distribution (Mw = 1.15 × 106, Mw/Mn = 1.6) in high yield (98%), and the activity increased at higher temperatures (80 °C).