TETRACHLOROCYCLOPROPENE . PENULTIMATE EFFECT AND 3-MEMBERED RING STRUCTURE IN COPOLYMERIZATIONS WITH VINYL ACETATE AND STYRENE

The presence of chlorinated three-membered rings in copolymers of tetrachlorocyclopropene has been confirmed by synthesis of the diacetate of 1,2,3,3-tetrachlorocyclopropane-cis-1,2-diethanol and comparison of its spectra with those of vinyl acetate copolymers. Analysis of low-conversion data in free-radical copolymerizations with vinyl acetate and styrene indicates that tetrachlorocyclopropene does not add to a growing chain when the penultimate unit is tetrachlorocyclopropene. Assuming that self-addition of tetrachlorocyclopropene is forbidden, reactivity ratios have been calculated for vinyl acetate (0.72 ± 0.02 at 80°) and styrene (5.7 ± 0.4 at 60°). © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.