Synthesis of polymers of 1,2‐disubstituted ethylenes (polymeric alcohols and their derivatives) and investigation of the influence of the nature of side groups on the properties of macromolecules

Methods for synthesis of polymeric alcohols and their ethers of type poly‐1,2‐disubstituted ethylenes have been considered. Cationic polymerization of cis‐1,2‐dimethoxy‐ethylene was carried out in a solvent‐nonsolvent mixture, and a polymer was obtained with a molecular weight of about 200,000 which is unusually high for this type of polymers. On the basis of PMR spectra of model compounds, poly‐1,2‐dimethoxyethylene (PDME) is assumed to be threo‐diisotactic. Intramolecular mobility and its relationship with microstructure of the polymer chain were investigated by the polarization fluorescence method. A strong influence of side group interactions on the properties of macromolecules in solution was observed. It was probably caused by the peculiarity of the chemical structure of poly‐1,2‐disubstituted ethylenes.