Polymerization of vinylene carbonate as well as aminolysis and hydrolysis of poly(vinylene carbonate)

Poly(vinylene carbonate) was prepared via both bulk and solution polymeriza tion. The products of bulk polymerization were mainly crosslinked, which wa s due to transfer reactions between the chain radicals and macromolecules. In solution polymerization., only soluble and low-molecular-weight polymers could be obtained because of chain transfer reactions with the solvents, a nd the transfer constant of N,N-dimethylformamide in the polymerization of vinylene carbonate at 60 degreesC, C-S = 0.0228, was determined. Additional ly, aminolysis and hydrolysis of poly(vinylene carbonate) and its model com pound - ethylene carbonate were studied, respectively. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.