Oligomerisation and Stereoselective Polymerisation of Alkenes and Alkynes Using Pyridyl-based Al(III) Catalysts

Dealkylation of the dimers R2Al(2-py')2 (2-py’ = 6-substituted pyridyl, R = Me, iBu) with Ph 3 /sub>CB(C6 F 5 ) 4 gives the putativecations RAl( 2 -py') 2 (μ-R)AlR + which can polymerise a range of alkenes with a high degree... Dealkylation of the dimers R2Al(2-py')2 (2-py’ = 6-substituted pyridyl, R = Me, iBu) with Ph 3 /sub>CB(C6 F 5 ) 4 gives the putativecations RAl( 2 -py') 2 (μ-R)AlR + which can polymerise a range of alkenes with a high degree of stereo-regularity (syndiotacticity in the case of polystyrene) and cylotrimerise terminal alkynes to tri-substituted benzenes and a fulvene. This is the first report of stereoselective Al(III) polymerisation and of the cyclotrimerisation of alkynes by static catalysis using a main group metal.