Syndioselective Polymerization of Vinylnaphthalene

Coordination polymerizations of 1-vinylnaphthalene (1VN), 2-vinylnaphthalene (2VN) and 6-methoxy-2-vinylnaphthalene (MVN) are carried out at room temperature by using the half-sandwich scandium precursor FluSiMe(3)Sc(CH2SiMe3)(2)(THF) (1) and the constrained geometry configuration rare-earth metal precursors FluCH(2)PyLn(CH2SiMe3)(2)(THF)(n) [Flu = C13H8, Py = C5H4N; Ln = Sc (2a), n = 0; Ln = Lu (2b), Y(2c), n = 1]. Atactic poly(1VN) and perfect syndiotactic poly(2VN) and poly(MVN) are produced by precursors 2a-2c in a controlled way. Treatment of poly(MVN) with boron tribromide at -20 degrees C provides a syndiotactic poly(6-hydroxy-2-vinylnaphthalene).