Organometallic polymers. XXIV. Synthesis and copolymerization behavior of <i>h</i>⁶‐(2‐phenylethyl acrylate) tricarbonylchromium

Abstract

Abstract The monomer h 6 ‐(2‐phenylethyl Acrylate) tricarbonylchromium (PEAC) was synthesized and copolymerized in solution at 70°C with styrene, methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, and 2‐phenylethyl acrylate, azobisisobutyronitrile being used as the initiator. In ethyl acetate solvent the relative reactivity ratios were crudely approximated. The copolymers all exhibited binodal molecular weight distributions, the high molecular weight node probably resulting from branching. The h 6 ‐benzenetricarbonylchromium unit decomposed when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light both in air and under N 2 . In air, Cr 2 O 3 was initially formed within copolymer films. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to prepare h 6 ‐(2‐phenylethyl acrylate)tricarbonylmolybdenum, (III), the molybdenum analog of PEAC, from arenes and both Mo(CO) 6 and (CH 3 CN) 3 Mo(CO) 3 . These reactions are described.