CATIONIC COPOLYMERIZATION OF STYRENES WITH AN ISOCYANATE-BEARING HOMOLOG

The cationic homopolymerization of the isocyanate monomer 3-isopropeny l-alpha,alpha'-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate (1a) as well as its copolymer ization with styrene (1b) and alpha-methylstyrene (1c) were studied. T he syntheses involved the use of titanium tetrachloride in methylene c hloride at low temperature. Apart from showing that it is possible to homopolymerize 1a, copolymers with less than 30 mol% of 1a were prepar ed and thoroughly characterized. They had a very wide molecular weight distribution (I-p similar to 4) and their T-g's followed Fox's equati on. These highly reactive copolymers were synthetized in view of coupl ing them with cellulosic fibres.