PROGRESS: Completed Project	PROJECT REF: PA048
PROJECT TITLE: Highly Stereoregular Polyacetylenes from Organorhodium Catalysts in Aqueous Media
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: A new aqueous polymerization system for manufacturing stereoregular polyacetylenes with high yield is developed. Polymerizations of phenylacetylenes containing a variety of functional groups including liquid crystalline mesogens are effected in water by a large number of organorhodium complexes. Where water was found to be a much better solvent than toulene, polymerizations in water are very fast and produce polymers with high molecular weights and high stereoregularity with high yields. This polymerization system is for manufacturing stereoregular polyacetylenes under a most natural condition: in water under an atmosphere of air. The method can be used to form thin polyacetylene film. Like other aqueous polymerizations, this system shares the advantages of simple process design, easy product isolation, low cost of production, considerable reduction of organic wastes, and allows development of recyclable or reusable catalyst systems. More important is, the new system avoids the problems with organometallic complexes that are extremely sensitive to water with polyacetylenes. Polyacetylenes are a group of novel conjugating polymers that possess unique electrical, optical, optoelectrical, magnetic, chiroptical, (enantio)permselective, and photolithographic properties. By adopting aqueous polymerization systems, it means replacing toxic organic solvents with the non-toxic inexpensive natural resource – water, which avoids unnecessary pollution to the environment. Potential Applications: - Aqueous polymerization systems for manufacturing advanced polymeric materials Advantages over Present Technologies: 1. Cost-effective 2. A rapid method 3. High yield 4. High stereoregularity 5. Environmental-friendly
FOCUS AREA(S): Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials
KEYWORDS: stereoregular polyacetylenes, polymeric materials. aqueous polymerization system
MODE OF COLLABORATION: Technology Licensing, Further R&D Collaboration
STATUS PATENT: Granted	PATENT NO: US6291606
ORGANIZATION: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology R and D Corporation Limited
CONTACT PERSON: Shirley Woo	EMAIL: cawoosw@ust.hk
TEL: (852)-23587918	FAX: (852)-23582751
WEBSITE: http://rdc.ust.hk/	DATE: 29/12/2004