Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.138, No.36, 11840-11849, 2016
Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Cyclic Olefins by (Arylimido)vanadium(V)-Alkylidenes: Highly Active, Thermally Robust Cis Specific Polymerization
Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of various cyclic olefins especially using three (arylimido)vanadium(V)-alkylidene catalysts, V(CHSiMe3)(N-2,6-Cl2C6H3) (OC6F5) (PMe3)(2) (3), V(CHSiMe3) (NR) [OC(CF3)(3)](PMe3)(2) [R = Ph (6), 2,6-Cl2C6H3 (7)] have been explored. Complex 3 exhibited the highest catalytic activity (ex. TOF = 603 000 h(-1), 168 s(-1)) for ROMP of norbornene (NBE) among a series of (imido)vanadium(V)-alkylidenes, and the cis-specific living ROMPs of NBE proceeded with remarkable activities (TOF = 125 000-157 000 h(-1) at 25 degrees C) by the fluorinated alkoxo analogues.(6, 7). The activities by 6, 7 increased at high temperature (50 and 80 degrees C) and/or upon addition of PMe3 without decrease in the cis selectivity (98%). The ROMPs in the presence of 1-hexene by 3, 7 proceeded without significant decrease in the activities, and the M-n values could be controlled by degree of chain transfer (cross metathesis). These dichlorophenylimido analogues (3, 7) were effective for ROMPs of various norbornene derivatives; ROMP of cyclooctene took place by 3, and the activity increased at high temperature (50, 80 degrees C).