Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a tricyclodecane or tricyclodecene unit: Synthesis of new poly(vinyl ether)s with high glass‐transition temperature

Abstract

The polymerizations of vinyl ethers with a tricyclodecane or tricyclodecene unit (1, 2, and 3) with the HCl/ZnCl2 initiating system in toluene at −30 °C proceeded in a living manner to give high molecular-weight polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. The Tg's of poly(1) and poly(2) reached ∼100 °C, whereas the Tg of poly(3) was lower than those of poly(1) and poly(2), but still much higher than room temperature. These results show that the rigid tricyclic groups in the side chains effectively elevate the Tg of poly(vinyl ethers)s.