Controlling selectivity for dechlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) with (xantphos)RhCl.

Reaction of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with 5 equiv. of triethyl silane in THF, in the presence of generated (xantphos)RhCl catalyst, results in partial reduction of PVC hydrodechlorination to yield poly(vinyl chloride--ethylene). Increasing catalyst loading or using ,-dimethylacetamide (DMA) as a solvent both diminished selectivity for hydrodechlorination, promoting competitive dehydrochlorination reactions.