SYNTHESES AND PROPERTIES OF POLY(B-VINYLBORAZINE) AND POLY(STYRENE-CO-B-VINYLBORAZINE) COPOLYMERS

B-Vinylborazine has been found to readily polymerize in solution using free-radical initiation with AIBN to yield soluble poly(B-vinylborazine) homopolymers. Molecular weight characterization using size exclusion chromatography/low, angle laser light scattering (SEC/LALLS) suggests that poly(B-vinylborazine) has a heterogeneous chain structure consisting of linear and, possibly, branched polymer chains. AIBN initiation has also been employed to produce a range of new hybrid organic/inorganic poly(styrene-co-B-vinylborazine) (SVB) copolymers with controlled compositions and molecular weights. Random copolymerization of styrene and B-vinylborazine monomers was confirmed by relative reactivity ratios and excimer fluorescence measurements. SEC/LALLS in conjunction with ultraviolet absorption detection (SEC/LALLS/UV) suggests that the copolymerization conditions that promote copolymer compositional heterogeneity may also produce a fraction of branched copolymer molecules due to dehydropolymerization reactions of the B-vinylborazine monomer.