Six electron-poor tetrasubstituted olefins were reacted with electron-rich comonomers. Of these, three {dimethyl dicyanofumarate (DDCF), dimethyl 1,1-dicyanoethylene-2,2-dicarboxylate (DDED), and dicarbomethoxymaleic anhydride (DCMA)} were found to polymerize with styrenes and vinyl ethers to form 1:1 alternating copolymers of low molecular weight. All polymerizations with vinyl ethers and DCMA required initiation, while the copolymerizations of DDED and DDCF with styrenes were spontaneous. Tetramethyl ethylenetetracarboxylate, diisopropylidene ethylenetetracarboxylate, and trimethyl cyanoethylenetricarboxylate failed to copolymerize under any conditions. The spontaneous reactions of these tetrasubstituted olefins can best be explained as proceeding via tetramethylene intermediates, resonance hybrids of biradicals and zwitterions. Spontaneous copolymerizations occur from biradical intermediates; cycloadduct formation occurs from both. Tetramethylene formation is electronically controlled during the reaction of DDED and electron-rich comonomers, as reflected by the structure of the isolated cyclobutanes. The orientation of this monomer is the copolymer with styrene is sterically controlled, as suggested by ('13)C NMR. Methyl 3,3-dicyanoacrylate, a new tetrasubstituted olefin, was found to spontaneously copolymerize with styrenes, and to form cyclobutanes with vinyl ethers. It could be copolymerized with vinyl ethers with radical initiation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/187859 |
| Date | January 1982 |
| Creators | SENTMAN, ROBERT CRAIG. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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