SYNTHESIS AND POLYMERIZATION OF MONO-PARA-ALKOXY-SUBSTITUTED TRIPHENYLMETHYL METHACRYLATE

Triphenylmethyl methacrylates having alkoxy groups, or mesogenic groups with alkyleneoxy spacer, as p-substituents of one of the phenyl groups were synthesized. Althoughthe monomers and polymers were considerably unstable against hydrolysis, polymers could be obtained by radical polymerization by careful handling of the compounds. Anionic initiators, such as butylithium, usually failed to give high polymers. This seems to be because of the difficulty in obtaining completely dry monomers for anionic polymerization. Triad isotacticity of the polymers was evaluated after converting the polymers into poly(methyl methacrylate)s. Polymers obtained not only by anionic polymerization but also by radical polymerization showed considerably high isotacticity. The effects of the substituents on the isotacticity of the polymers are described. © 1990 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan.