alpha-acetal-omega-bis(hydroxymethyl) heterodifunctional polystyrene: Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of intramolecular end-to-end ring closure
M. Schappacher et A. Deffieux, alpha-acetal-omega-bis(hydroxymethyl) heterodifunctional polystyrene: Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of intramolecular end-to-end ring closure, MACROMOLEC, 34(17), 2001, pp. 5827-5832
A route to macrocyclic polystyrene of controlled dimensions based on a new
ring closure process has been investigated. It involved the direct coupling
of an alpha -acetal,omega -bis(hydroxymethyl) heterodifunctional linear po
lystyrene precursor previously prepared by living anionic polymerization. C
yclization was achieved under high dilution, by intramolecular condensation
of the polymer ends in the presence of a mild acid as catalyst. Macrocycli
c polystyrenes were prepared directly in high yield (> 90%) without any nec
essary fractionation step. The synthesis and structural characterization of
both the linear alpha,omega -heterodifunctional precursors and the corresp
onding cyclized polystyrenes, as well as a preliminary investigation of the
ir stability and specific thermal properties, are reported.