Polyphosphinoborane Block Copolymer Synthesis Using Catalytic Reversible Chain‐Transfer Dehydropolymerization

• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202216106
• Publication Date: 2022-11-17T12:00:12Z
• Authors: James J. Race; Alex Heyam; Matthew A. Wiebe; J. Diego‐Garcia H...; Charlotte E. Ellis; Shixing Lei; Ian Manners; Andrew S. Weller
• Keywords: Oligomer; Chain transfer; Solvent polarity; Chain (unit)

Abstract An amphiphilic block copolymer of polyphosphinoborane has been prepared by a mechanism‐led strategy the sequential catalytic dehydropolymerization precursor monomers, H 3 B ⋅ PRH 2 (R=Ph, n‐hexyl), using simple pre‐catalyst [Rh(Ph PCH CH PPh ) ]Cl. Speciation, mechanism and polymer chain growth studies support step‐growth process where reversible transfer occurs, i.e. /oligomer/polymer can all coordinate with, be activated by, catalyst. Block [H BPPhH] 110 ‐ b ‐[H BP(n‐hexyl)H] 11 synthesized self‐assembles in solution to form either rod‐like micelles or vesicles depending on solvent polarity.