SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL PHOTOPOLYMERIZABLE MULTIFUNCTIONAL 2-PROPENYL ETHER ANALOGS

Monomers bearing two, three, four, and six cationically polymerizable aryl 2-propenyl groups were synthesized and characterized. These compounds can be readily prepared by the catalytic isomerization of the corresponding allyl compounds. Strong bases and tris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) dichloride were used as the catalysts for these isomerizations. A study of the cationic photopolymerizations of these novel monomers was carried out using a diaryliodonium salt photoinitiator. The polymerization involves a step-wise condensation of the monomers followed by an intramolecular ring closure to form polyindanes. The resulting photopolymerized polymers underwent thermal oxidative decomposition at temperatures over 430-degrees-C.