Two Undergraduate Experiments in Organic Polymers: The Preparation of Polyacetylene and Telechelic Polyacetylene via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization
Eric J. Moorhead and Anna G. Wenzel
Joint Science Department, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps Colleges, Claremont, CA 91711
The ruthenium-catalyzed ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 1,3,5,7-cyclooctatetraene (COT) to produce polyacetylene and a telechelic polymer of polyacetylene is described in a series of two experiments for the undergraduate laboratory. In the first experiment, students plate-polymerize COT and dope the resulting polyacetylene with iodine to perform resistivity studies. In the second experiment, students mix COT with TBS-protected cis-2-butene diol as a chain transfer agent to produce a telechelic polyene, which is then studied via 1H NMR, IR, and UV–vis spectroscopy. Experimental details and the results of a test study of these experiments in an undergraduate laboratory class are discussed.
Supplement
Instructions for the students including pre-lab questions and report information; Notes for the instructor; List of the reagents, equipment, and supplies
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