Zheng-Lin's work on controlled chain-growth polymerization via propargyl/allenyl palladium intermediates has been published on Nature Communications.
In this work, we report the controlled chain polymerization via a propargyl/ allenyl palladium intermediate using a special propargyl electrophilic reagent, vinylidenecyclopropane (VDCP). This reaction features high molecular weight (MW) (Mn up to 94.2 kg/mol), narrow dispersity (Đ ~ 1.1), ultrafast kinetics (full conversion in minutes), and excellent chemoselectivity. Leveraging the exceptional reactivity of VDCP, we demonstrated gradient pseudo-diblock copolymerization with vinylcyclopropanes (VCP). Experimental and computational evidence was found in support of propargyl/allenyl palladium intermediates.
