Synthesis and photoinitiated cationic polymerization of mono- and bifunctional 2,3-dihydrofuran derivatives

Mono- and bifunctional monomers with 2,3-dihydrofuran moieties were synthes ized by Heck-reaction of 2,5-dihydrofuran with various aryliodides. The bif unctional monomers contained either rigid phenyl and biphenyl or flexible e ther linkages. The synthesized monomers were polymerized by photoinduced ca tionic polymerization by using triphefiylsulphonium-hexafluorophosphate as the photoacid generator. Depending upon the type of monomers used, soluble polymers and insoluble networks were readily formed. The thermal properties of the polymers were studied via Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) a nd Scanning Thermal Analysis (STA).