The polymerisation of acetylene derivatives. I. The polymerisation of some monomers derived from vinylacetylene

The polymerisation of p‐[1‐(3′‐buten‐1′‐ynyl)cyclohexyl]phenyl acetate (I, R=Ac) and of the corresponding anisole (I, R=Me) by benzoyl peroxide has been investigated. In further polymerisation experiments with different initiators, the highest degree of polymerisation (∼ 30 monomer units) was achieved with diazoaminobenzene. The copolymerisation of the butenynylcyclohexylanisole with styrene which was also investigated, gave resins with physical properties intermediate between the homopolymers and polystyrene. The polymerisation of allyl isopropenyl ketone, derived from 3‐buten‐1‐ynyldimethylcarbinol by way of vinylisopropenylacetylene, and its copolymerisation with styrene was also investigated. 4‐Penten‐2‐ynyl acetate and benzoate underwent polymerisation on heating with benzoyl peroxide giving soft gels, but attempts to copolymerise these esters with styrene proved unsuccessful.