One effort focused on the thermal polymerization chemistry of phenylphosphaacetylene. The monomer was prepared by literature techniques then allowed to thermally polymerize. The result was a soluble material that appears to be polyhedral oligophosphaacetylenes formed through a combination of cycloadditions and disproportionation reactions. Mass spectrometry and 32P and 13C NMR using 13C labeled phenylphosphaacetylene were used to characterize the oligomeric products.

Loy, D. A.; Jamison, G.M.; McClain, M. D.; Alam, T.M. Spontaneous Polymerization of Phenylphosphaethyne. J. Poly. Sci.: Part A:Polym. Chem. 1999, 37, 129-133.

Contact: Doug Loy