OXIDATIVE CROSS-LINKING POLYMERIZATION OF POLY[(METHYL METHACRYLATE)-CO-(2-(N-PYRROLYL)ETHYL METHACRYLATE)] WITH IRON CHLORIDE IN NITROMETHANE

Poly[(methyl methacrylate)-co-(2-(N-pyrrolyl)ethyl methacrylate)] (PMM A-co-PEMA, 1) containing 0,7 to 7 mol-% pyrrolylethyl methacrylate (PE MA) units was crosslinked via oxidative polymerization with FeCl3 in i nert atmosphere. The properties of the products 2 depended on the amou nt of electroactive side groups and on the molecular weight of the pre cursor copolymers 1 as well as on the reaction conditions. Crosslinkin g between pendant pyrrole groups and an increase in the glass transiti on temperature in the oxidative coupling could be avoided using precur sor copolymers 1 with low PEMA content (< 1 mol-%).