Synthesis of rhodium catalysts with amino acid or triazine as a ligand, as well as its polymerization property of phenylacetylene

Abstract Three novel rhodium complexes, with l-tyrosine (l-Tyr), l-arginine (l-Arg), or 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine (Dpt) as a ligand, named as [Rh(cod)(l-Tyr)], [Rh(cod)(l-Arg)], and [Rh(cod)(Dpt)2], respectively, had been synthesized for catalyzing the polymerization of phenylacetylene. Their yields were 62.34, 54.87, and 58.21%, respectively, by the most suitable synthesis conditions at 25°C for 4 h. The structures and purity of these complexes were proved by 1H NMR, element analysis, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It has been examined that phenylacetylene could be polymerized by the three complexes as catalysts with high degrees of polymerization (n = 368, 385, and 664, respectively) and yields (about 87.62, 88.39, and 59.67%, respectively). In conclusion, compared with traditional [Rh–N] type catalysts, the novel [N–Rh–N] type catalyst ([Rh(cod)(Dpt)2]) gained better catalytic performance. By comparing the yield, Mw, and degree of their polymerization, the polymerization mechanism was found under the [N–Rh–N] type rhodium catalyst system.