Fullerene dications as initiators of polymerization with 1,3-butadiene in the gas phase: chemistry directed by electrostatics?

One of the many emerging frontiers in fullerene chemistry is the field of polymer chemistry. This is evidenced, for example, by the recent report of the synthesis of the first copolymer containing C{sub 60}, based on the reaction of the xylylene diradical with C{sub 60} dissolved in toluene. We report here results of experiments which indicate that the dications of C{sub 60} and C{sub 70} may initiate the polymerization of the conventional polymerization monomer 1,3-butadiene in the gas phase. The results suggest a potential role for fullerene dications generally as initiators of polymerization. A novel feature of the proposed mechanism of this polymerization is the role which Coulombic repulsion between the two positive charges may play in driving the direction of polymerization. 8 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.