Synthesis and photoinitiated cationic polymerization of substituted 2-cyclopropyl-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolanes

The synthesis of substituted 2-cyclopropyl-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolanes 6a-c is described. Photoinitiated cationic polymerization at ambient temperature s in bulk and in solution was investigated using (eta (5)-2,4-cyclopentadie ne-1-yl)[1,2,3,4,5,6-eta] (1-(methylethyl) benzene)iron(II) hexafluorophosp hate (Irgacure 261, I-1) and ditolyliodonium hexafluoro-phosphate (I-2). Up on irradiation a single ring-opening polymerization occured within 4 min le ading to polyether ketones 6a-c with number average molecular weights (M) o ver bar (n) between 5000 and 33 600 g/mol. No ring-opening polymerization o f the cyclopropane ring could be detected. A volume shrinkage of about 6.4% was found.