RING-OPENING METATHESIS AND THERMOINITIAT ED POLYMERIZATION OF 1-METHYL-1-NORBORNENYLMETHYL-1-SILACYCLOBUTANE

Polymerization and other reactions of anew bifunctional monomer-1-meth yl-1-norbomenyl-1-sila-cyclobutane were studied. Metathesis polymeriza tion and copolymerization with norbornene were carried out in the pres ence of ruthenium- and tungsten-based catalytic systems. The prepared polycyclopentylenevinylenes having cyclobutane moieties are capable of being cross-linked by heating 180 - 200-degrees-C due to the opening of the silacyclobutane ring. Thermal polymerization of the above-menti oned monomer and its copolymerization with 1,1-dimethyl-1-silacyclobut ane were performed at 160 - 220-degrees-C by keeping norbornene bi-cyc les intact. Retrodiene decomposition of the norbornene moiety with the elimination of cyclopentadiene takes place at temperatures exceeding 220-degrees-C. The structure of the polymers obtained was identified b y H-1, C-13 NMR, and IR spectroscopy.