Mechanochemical Synthesis of Fragile Polymer: Synthesis of a Poly(phenylacetylene) Using a Ball-milling Approach

Mechanochemical synthesis of polymers without scission of the polymer chain remains a challenge. Methods for synthesizing fragile polymers can be applied to the synthesis of other polymers. Herein we report a method to synthesize polymer suppressing polymer chain scission using a mechanochemical synthesis of poly(4-methoxycarbonylphenylacetylene) (P4MCPA), a fragile polymer whose main chain easily undergoes cis-to-trans isomerization under pressure and is cleaved upon heat treatment. By adding solid additives to reactants, P4MCPA with high molecular weights and cis ratio was synthesized. Poly(4-methoxycarbonylphenylacetylene) (P4MCPA), a fragile polymer whose main chain easily undergoes cis-to-trans isomerization under pressure and is cleaved upon heat treatment, was synthesized via ball-milling approach which is generally used to pulverize materials. By adding solid additives to the reactants, P4MCPA with high molecular weights and cis ratio could be synthesized.