Highly Cis-1,4-Selective Living Polymerization of 3-Methylenehepta-1,6-diene and Its Subsequent Thiol–Ene Reaction: An Efficient Approach to Functionalized Diene-Based Elastomer

Living polymerization of 3-methylenehepta-1,6-diene (MHD) catalyzed by bis(phosphino)carbazoleide-ligated yttrium alkyl complex afforded a new product bearing pendant terminal vinyl groups with high stereotacticity (cis-1,4-selectivity up to 98.5%), proved by the NMR (1H, 13C, and 1D ROESY) spectroscopic analyses, which demonstrates overwhelmingly favorable chemoselectivity toward conjugated diene over α-olefin moieties. High cis-1,4 random copolymers of MHD and isoprene could also be obtained with pendant vinyl groups ranging from 10% to 90%. These vinyl groups in every chain unit can be cleanly and quantitatively converted into various functionalities via light-mediated thiol–ene reaction, resulting in homo- and copolymers of various functional butadiene derivatives, which display versatile thermal properties.