Functionalization vs. degradation of 1,4-polybutadiene by ruthenium complex catalyzed reaction with vinylsilanes
Polybutadiene (I) containing 91% of 1,4-(cis-trans) units and 9% of 1,2-units in the presence of vinyltriethoxysilane (II) and ruthenium catalysts RuCl2(PPh3)3 (III), RuHCl(CO)(PPh3)3 (IV), and [RuCl2(CO)3]2 (V) at 100-130°C undergoes functionalization and (or) partial degradation as an effect of competitive silylative coupling of =C-H and cross-metathesis of I with II. Significant degradation of I occurs at lower temperatures (100-110°C) (particularly when the process is carried out in air), but exclusive functionalization of I is observed at higher temperature (120-130°C) regardless of the atmosphere (air or argon) used.Key words: functionalization, degradation, polybutadiene, ruthenium complexes.