Vinylidene-based polymers by Rh(i)-NHC catalyzed thiol–yne click polymerization: synthesis, characterization and post-polymerization modification

Abstract

Complex RhCl(IPr)(pyridine)(η²-coe) (IPr = 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) efficiently catalyzes the polyhydrothiolation of aromatic diynes with aliphatic dithiols to give vinylidene-based polymers (vinylidene content of 80%) with high molecular weights (M_w up to 199 000). These polymers have been shown to be chemically modifiable through hydrogenation and chemical oxidation processes.