Synthesis of new soluble polybenzyls by Friedel-Crafts reactions

Soluble polybenzyls were prepared by a catalytic electrophilic Friedel-Craf ts type polycondensation between alpha,alpha' -dichloro-p-xylene and substi tuted (by an alkyl or an alkoxy side-chain) mesitylene. The influence of th e length of the side-chain on the solubility of the polymer was examined. T he polymers were found to be soluble in common organic solvents. Polymer ch aracterizations were made by C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( NMR), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), differential scanning calorimetr y (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and elemental analysis. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.