Carbonization of 1,4-diiodo-1,3-butadiyne and 1-iodo-1,3,5-hexatriyne inside the MCM-41 molecular sieve

Abstract 1,4-Diiodo-1,3-butadiyne and a new derivative 1-iodo-1,3,5-hexatriyne were polymerised to prepare a carbonaceous material with oligoyne segments. The polymerisation was initiated by UV radiation (C 4 I 2 ) or simply by a concentration rise after evaporation of the solvent (C 6 HI). The formation of oligoyne was followed by FTIR in KBr pellets, in which the polymerisation occurred. Both precursors were also polymerised in the channels of the siliceous MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve. Polymeric carbon, confined in the channels, showed a broad IR band at 2090–2180 cm −1 corresponding to conjugated sp -bonded carbons. The intraporous polymerization was followed by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption. Both the precursors and the polymerization products showed improved chemical and thermal stability if they were confined inside the MCM-41 matrix.