The
precise control of regio- and stereochemistry in the cyclopolymerization
of heteroatom-functionalized α,ω-dienes is of much interest
and importance, but has remained a challenge to date. We report herein
the regio-, diastereoselective and stereoregular cyclopolymerization
of ether- and thioether-functionalized 1,6-heptadienes by a half-sandwich
scandium catalyst. The polymerization of 4-benzyloxy-1,6-heptadiene
selectively afforded the corresponding benzyloxy-functionalized cyclic
polymer composed of 1,2,4-cis-substituted-ethylenecyclopentane
(ECP) microstructures in a isospecific fashion (95% mmm). In contrast, the polymerization of 4-phenylthio-1,6-heptadiene
exclusively yielded 1,2-trans-1,4-cis-ECP units with high isotacticity (95% rrr). The
DFT calculations revealed that an interaction between the scandium
atom in the catalyst and the heteroatom in a diene monomer played
an important role in controlling the regio- and stereochemistry of
the diene cyclopolymerization. The copolymerization of functionalized
1,6-heptadienes with ethylene has also been achieved in a controlled
fashion.