High molecular weight poly(vinylene carbonate) and derivatives

Abstract

Abstract The preparation, structure and physical properties of poly(vinylene carbonate), polyhydroxymethylene, and polyacetoxymethylene are discussed. Vinylene carbonate was prepared by chlorinating ethylene carbonate in carbon tetrachloride solution, dehydrohalogenating the product, and refluxing the bulk monomer with small weight percentages of sodium borohydride. Monomer prepared and purified in this way gave very high molecular weight polymer by free‐radical initiation. Poly(vinylene carbonate) films were converted to polyhydroxymethylene films by hydrolysis with sodium methylate in methanol. Drawn polyhydroxymethylene films were crystalline and oriented and had good tensile properties. Polyacetoxymethylene was prepared by treatment of polyhydroxymethylene with acetic anhydride in molten urea.