CYCLOPOLYMERIZATION OF CONFORMATIONALLY CONTROLLED UNSYMMETRICAL DIENES - 2-(ORTHO-VINYLPHENOXY)ETHYL METHACRYLATE AND ACRYLATE

Although there has been a tremendous number of examples of cyclopolymerization of symmetrical 1,5- and 1,6-dienes reported, symmetrical nonconjugated dienes which are separated by more than three atoms have shown less tendency to form cyclopolymers. Polymerization studies of unsymmetrical nonconjugated dienes have been limited to six-membered and smaller ring formation. In this communication, the authors report the syntheses and polymerization of 2-(o-vinylphenoxy)ethyl methacrylate (VPEM) and acrylate (VPEA), and evidence to support formation of large-ring rigid polymer structures from these monomers via the cyclopolymerization mechanism. Monomers and polymers synthesized in the reported experiments were characterized IR and NMR spectroscopy.