Polycyclotrimerization of diynes: Synthesis and properties of hyperbranched polyphenylenes

Diyne polycyclotrimerizations initiated by transition-metal catalysts afforded hyperbranched polyphenylenes, which exhibited low viscosity, outstanding thermal stability, and small optical dispersion. Under optimized reaction conditions, polycyclotrimerizations of 1,8-nonadiyne (1) and 1,9-decadiyne (2) catalyzed by TaCl₅-Ph₄Sn produced hyperbranched poly(1,2,4-benzenetriyl-1,5-pentanediyl) (3) and poly(1,2,4-benzenetriyl-1,6-hexanediyl) (4),^1-5 respectively, in high yields (up to 93%). The polymers were completely soluble and film-forming, and possessed high molecular weights (M_w up to ∼1.4 × 10⁶) but low intrinsic viscosities ([η] down to 0.13 dL/g). Their structures and properties were analyzed and evaluated by IR, UV, NMR, SEC, TGA, DSC, spectrofluorometry, light scattering, and spectroellipsometry. The structural characterizations confirmed the expected hyperbranched molecular architectures of 3 and 4 (comprising of 1,2,4-benzene rings and αω-alkyl spacers) and revealed the regioselective feature of the diyne polycyclotrimerizations. Polymers 3 and 4 underwent glass transitions at 43 and 23°C, respectively, and lost almost no weights when heated to ∼500°C. Polymer 3 emitted UV light upon excitation, whereas 4 was practically nonluminescent. The thin films of 3 were highly transparent (>99.5% transmittance) and displayed an optical dispersion as low as 0.009 in the visible spectral region, much superior to those of the commercially important "organic glasses" such as poly(methyl methacrylate) and polycarbonates.