Thermal crosslinking of acetylene-containing polymers obtained by radical polymerization of aromatic enynes

Acetylene-containing polymers, obtained by the radical polymerization of 4- substituted aromatic enynes, were subjected to the thermal crosslinking rea ction on the basis of the reactivity of the acetylene moieties. The crossli nking occurred from ca. 140 degreesC to give an insoluble product. The cros slinking was supposed to be the irreversible reaction of the acetylene moie ties to give new conjugated structure from the IR and UV-vis spectra. The s teric bulkiness of the substituents tend to restrain the crosslinking and d ecline the decomposition temperature of the polymers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.