SPONTANEOUS COPOLYMERIZATION OF 4-METHYLENE-1,3-DIOXOLANES WITH MALEIC-ANHYDRIDE

Data are presented which demonstrate that the copolymerization of methylenedioxolanes, such as 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (I) and 2,2-dimethyl-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (II), with maleic anhydride (Manh) gives rise spontaneously to the alternating copolymers bY the participation of charge-transfer (CT) complexes. The formation of CT complexes I-Manh and II-Manh was ascertained by UV and NMR spectroscopies. The equilibrium constants (I) could not be determined but were assumed to be small (K VM LS TH 1). For comparison with these systems an investigation of I-dimethyl maleate (DMM) and II-DMM systems was carried out to estimate K values 0. 115 and 0. 157 L/mol, respectively. To clarify the copolymerization mechanism I-Manh-acrylonitrile was terpolymerized. Consequently it was concluded that the spontaneous copolymerization of I-Manh and II-Manh systems is effected by the CT complex monomer mechanism.