Studies on poly(iminomethylenes)

A variety of simple alkyl and aryl isocyanides have been polymerized using 0.5% NiCl2 in ethanol as a catalyst. The resulting poly(iminomethylenes) have been characterized by carbon‐13 NMR spectroscopy and their polystyrene‐equivalent molecular weights have been determined by gel permeation chromatography. Straight chain aliphatic isocyanides having from three to ten carbon atoms in the chain form readily solyble polymers having molecular weights (Mw) in the general range 10,000 to 30,000. Neopentyl isocyanide unlike tert‐butyl isocyanide forms an insoluble polymer. A number of new soluble aryl isocyanide polymers have been obtained. However, aryl isocyanides having a single alkyl substituent (CH3, C2H5, CF3) in the ortho position give only insoluble polymers, whereas aryl isocyanides having alkyl substituents in both ortho positions (e.g., 2,6‐(CH3)2C6H3NC and 2,4,6‐(CH3)3C6H2NC) fail to polymerize under these conditions. The highest molecular weight soluble aryl isocyanide homopolymer is obtained from 3‐CH3OC6H4NC(Mw = 26,000). The trimethylsilyl substituted isocyanide (CH3)3SiCH2CH2NC has been obtained from LiCH2NC and (CH3)SiCH2Cl and gives a brown soluble homopolymer with a molecular weight (Mw) of 19,000.