ALTERNATING COPOLYMERIZATION OF 2,3-DICHLORO-5,6-DICYANO-P-BENZOQUINONE WITH STYRENE AND POLYMERIZATION BEHAVIOR WITH VINYLOXY COMPOUNDS

Data are presented which show that 2,3-dichloro-5,6-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) copolymerizes alternatingly with styrene (St). DDQ-isobutyl vinyl ether and DDQ-2-chloroethyl vinyl ether systems gave homopolymers of vinyl ethers, while DDQ-phenyl vinyl ether and DDQ-vinyl acetate systems gave oligomers containing both monomer units. In the terpolymerization of DDQ, p-chloranil (pCA), and St, terpolymers obtained were found to have about 50 mole% of St units regardless of monomer feed ratio and DDQ was incorporated much more rapidly into the terpolymer than pCA. The difference in the reactivity of the acceptor monomers could be attributed to that in their electron-accepting character.