SYNTHESES OF POLYMERS VIA REPETITIVE N-AL KYLATION

The repetitive N-alkylation reaction, at first used by Marvel, turned out to be a very versatile method for the synthesis of polycations. Re mbaum introduced the name ''ionenes'' for this type of polymers. In th e first part of the lecture some examples of single-stranded ionenes a re described. The second part shows how the repetitive N-alkylation ca n be used for the synthesis of spiro polymers. In these double-strande d polymers two spiro-conjugated rings of the main chain have a central quaternary nitrogen in common (spiro-ionenes or spiro-azonia polymers ). Starting from tetrabromides (for instance 1,2,4,5 tetrabromomethylb enzene) and different cyclic diamines soluble polymers (with more or l ess stretched shape) with the typical properties of polyelectrolytes a re obtained.