Organoiridium compounds with substituted phenantrolines as alkynes polymerization catalysts

The iridium derivatives [Ir(diene)(N-N)X] (diene = 1,5-cyclooctadiene, 1,5-hexadiene; N-N = 1,10-phenantroline and substituted derivatives; X = Cl, Br, I) catalyze the polymerization of phenylacetylene to the corresponding trans-polyene. The reaction is highly stereoselective with formation of 100% trans-polyphenylacetylene. A pronounced effect of the donor properties of the ligands on the catalytic reaction was observed. Spectroscopic studies provided useful indications as regards the formation of the polymerization initiator.