PRODUCTION OF NARROW-DISPERSITY POLY(P-HYDROXY-ALPHA-METHYLSTYRENE)

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an arbitrary-molecular-weight narrow-dispersity poly(p- hydroxy-α-methylstyrene) in high yields by alkoxylating p-hydroxy-α- methylstyrene with a vinyl ether, anionically polymerizing the product and allowing a proton acid to act on the polymer. SOLUTION: p-Hydroxy-α-methylstyrene is reacted with a vinyl ether represented by formula I (R<1> is H or a 1-3C alkyl; R<2> is a 1-20C alkyl, a 5-10C cycloalkyl or a 6-20C aryl) in the presence of an acid to obtain a 1- alkoxyalkoxy-4-(1-methylethenyl)benzene represented by formula II (the symbols are as defined in formula I). This is anionically polymerized in the presence of a polymerization initiator being an organoalkali metal compound (e.g. sec- butyllithium) to obtain a narrow-dispersity poly(1-alkoxyalkoxy-4-(1- methylethenyl)benzene). This is then brought into contact with a proton acid to obtain the objective product.