POLYMERIZATION OF ANISOLE DERIVATIVES CONTAINING ALLYL OR CHLOROMETHYL GROUP THROUGH AROMATIC ELECTROPHILIC SUBSTITUTION-REACTION

4-Allylanisole was polymerized with AlCl3 as a catalyst. The polymeriz ation was carried out in nitroethane at various temperatures with chan ging the ratio of the initiator to the monomer concentration. The weig ht average molecular weights measured by gel permeation chromatography in chloroform with polystyrene standards were between 1,500 and 4,700 . H-1 NMR spectroscopy showed that the polymerization proceeded throug h a stepwise aromatic electrophilic substitution reaction along with a minor chain-reaction, resulting in a branched polymer. 4-Chloromethyl anisole was also polymerized with AlCl3 in nitroethane through an arom atic electrophilic substitution reaction to give a high molecular weig ht polymer (Mw=88,000).