Kumada Catalyst-Transfer Polycondensation: Mechanism, Opportunities, and Challenges

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications. Vol. 32; no. 19; pp. 1503 - 1517
• Main Authors: Kiriy, Anton, Senkovskyy, Volodymyr, Sommer, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 04.10.2011; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; chain-growth polymerization; Chains (polymeric); conjugated block copolymers; conjugated polymers; Grignard metathesis polymerization; Initiators; Kumada catalyst-transfer polycondensation; Models, Chemical; Monomers; Polymerization; Polymers; Polymers - chemical synthesis; Polymers - chemistry; surface-initiated polymerization; Synthesis; Thiophenes; chain-growth polymerization; Grignard metathesis polymerization; conjugated block copolymers; surface-initiated polymerization; conjugated polymers; Kumada catalyst-transfer polycondensation
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201100316

Kumada catalyst‐transfer polycondensation (KCTP) is a new but rapidly developing method with great potential for the preparation of well‐defined conjugated polymers (CPs). The recently discovered chain‐growth mechanism is unique among the various transition metal‐catalyzed polycondensations, and has thus attracted much attention among researchers. Most progress is found in the areas of mechanism and external initiation via new initiators, but also the number of monomers other than thiophene that can be polymerized is steadily increasing. Accordingly, the variety of CP chain architectures is increasing as well, and a considerable contribution of KCTP toward more efficient materials can be expected in the future. This review critically focuses on very recent progress in the synthesis of CPs and the mechanism of KCTP, and is finally aimed at providing a comprehensive picture of this exciting polymerization method. The lately discovered but rapidly developing chain‐growth Kumada catalyst‐transfer polycondensation (KCTP) has great potential for the preparation of all kinds of well‐defined conjugated polymer architectures. This review article is aimed to give insight into recent progress in the synthesis of conjugated polymers and the mechanism of KCTP, and provides a comprehensive picture of this exciting polymerization method.