Abstract
A unique, covalently constructed capsular catalyst obtained by reaction of [Ni(η5‐C5H5)(1,5‐cyclooctadiene)] BF4 with the double‐calixarene‐derived diphosphine 1,3‐bis(5‐diphenylphosphino‐25,26,27,28‐tetrapropoxycalix[4]aren‐17‐yl)benzene (1) has been shown to polymerise butadiene at a rate considerably superior to that of previously known catalysts. The reported results indicate that the container structure of the covalent complex is retained during catalysis.
Graphical Abstract
A covalently constructed capsular nickel catalyst was obtained in one step from a double‐calixarene‐derived diphosphine. Its activity in butadiene polymerisation was found to be 40 times higher than that of related nickel complexes devoid of a capsular structure.
