Anionic syntheses of terminally functionalized ethylene oligomers

Abstract

Abstract Synthetic procedures for preparation of terminally functionalized linear ethylene oligomers are described. The preferred synthetic method is anionic oligomerization of ethylene with n ‐butyllithium–tetramethylethylenediamine and electrophilic substitution of the living oligomer so‐formed. Conditions and procedures for subsequent chemistry to elaborate the end groups of these oligomers are described. These procedures afford strictly linear ethylene oligomers which contain a wide variety of end groups and which range in molecular weight from 1000 to 4500 ( M n ). The product oligomers were characterized spectroscopically as toluene‐ d 8 solutions at 110°C using multinuclear NMR, FT‐IR, fluorescence, and UV‐visible spectroscopies as appropriate. Alternative stepwise approaches to such oligomers are also discussed.