SOME IONENES WITH SPIRANE UNITS (SPIROAZO NIA POLYMERS)

Polycations with quarternary N-atoms in the main chain according to th e general structure [N(+)(R1)2-R2-N(+)(R1)2-R3] 2X- can be synthesized by alkylation of polymers or by repetitive N-alkylation reactions sta rting from bis-tert amines and alpha,omega-bromoalkanes. The most comm on method is the repetitive Menschutkin-reaction: [GRAPHICS]. These po lymers are termed ''ionenes.'' In most cases, R1 is either methyl or e thyl and R2 and R3 are oligomethylene chains having identical or diffe rent lengths. However, a large number of ionenes with cycloaliphatic o r heteroaromatic and other units between the ammonium groups have also been described. In this paper, we report the synthesis of a new type of ionere, in which two spiro-conjugated rings have a central quartern ary nitrogen in common (''spiroazonia polymers'' or ''spiroionenes''): [GRAPHICS]. Details of the synthesis, the mechanism of the step-growt h reaction and some properties of these polymers will be described,