Supramolecular NHC ligands: on the influence of ZnII-templates on the activity of RhI(cod) complexes in carbene polymerization

New RhI(cod) complexes of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands containing a pending pyridyl moiety for subsequent binding of ZnII-templates were designed for supramolecular catalyst control in ‘carbene polymerization’ reactions. ZnII-templates indeed have an influence on the yields and the polymer molecular weights (and weight distributions) produced by these ‘supramolecular assemblies’. However, control experiments reveal that the effect of the ZnII-template on the polymerization results is general and not due to the assembly formation.