From poly(dialkylstannane)s to poly(diarylstannane)s: comparison of synthesis methods and resulting polymers

The efficiency and applicability of three different methods to synthesize polystannanes with different side chains are described. By means of dehydrogenative coupling utilizing the transition metal catalyst RhCl(PPh3)(3) (Wilkinson's catalyst), n-Bu2SnH2 reached the highest molar masses. Dehydrogenetive coupling in the presence of tetramethylethylenediamine could be best employed for (4-n-BuPh)(2)SnH2. Wurtz coupling using sodium in liquid ammonia was best suited for Ph2SnCl2. Next to the above-mentioned educts, n-Bu(Ph)SnX2 (X = H or Cl (as appropriate for the particular route) was used for polymerization resulting in one of so far rare example of asymmetric polystannanes with high molecular masses. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.