Polymerization of <i>N</i>-Propargylamides with a Rh−Vinyl Complex:  Confirmation of the Presence of Long-Lived Active Species

Abstract

The polymerization of N -propargylamides (HC⋮CCH 2 NHCOR, R = i- Pr ( 1 ), i- Bu ( 2 ), or n -Pen ( 3 )) with a Rh vinyl complex ( 4 ) was examined. The polymerization of 2 in chloroform in the presence of triphenylphosphine yielded polymer with a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution ( M n = 17 300, M w / M n = 1.36). The first-order plot based on the time profile of polymerization at 0 °C was linear, and the second monomer feed was also consumed completely in multistage polymerization. These results indicate that this polymerization has a livinglike nature. Further, a block copolymer was successfully prepared from monomers 2 and 3 .