Polyester nanoparticles by non‐aqueous emulsion polycondensation

A versatile non‐aqueous emulsion polycondensation process for the mild fabrication of polyester nanoparticles is presented. Spherical nanoparticles with diameters smaller than 60 nm are prepared in non‐aqueous emulsion systems. These emulsions consisted in one case of DMF dispersed in n‐hexane and in a second with acetonitrile dispersed in a continuous cyclohexane phase. Stabilization of these systems was achieved by using a polyisoprene‐polymethylmethacrylate block copolymer. The suitability of these aprotic emulsions for synthesizing polyester nanoparticles by emulsion polycondensation having molecular weights up to 22,000 g/mol is demonstrated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1101–1108, 2007     

Synthesis and properties of liquid crystalline polyurethanes

Liquid crystalline polyurethanes were prepared from 4,4′-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)biphenyl (BHBP) and 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI). The effect of partial replacement of BHBP by 25–75 mol % poly(oxytetramethylene) diol (PTMO, M _n = 250) on the liquid crystalline properties was studied. The BHBP/TDI/PTMO polyurethanes were obtained by one- and two-step polyaddition. The polyurethanes were investigated by DSC, polarizing microscopy, x-ray, and IR spectroscopy. The molecular weight distribution was determined by GPC. The morphology of the polymers was investigated by the SALS method. Thermogravimetric investigations of the polyurethanes were also performed. All polyurethanes containing BHBP units have liquid crystalline properties. Partial replacement of BHBP by PTMO-250 considerably changes the phase transition temperatures and the range of mesophase occurrence. More homogeneous polyurethanes were obtained, if the two-step polyaddition method was applied. The polyaddition method affects the phase transition temperatures. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polyurethane anionomers synthesised with aromatic, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diisocyanates, polyoxyethylene glycol and 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid

Taking advantage of the step-growth polyaddition method, which has been developed earlier, and applying it in the reaction of aromatic, cycloaliphatic and aliphatic diisocyanates with polyoxyethylene glycol, 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid and 1,6-hexamethylene-diamine, a few polyurethane anionomers were synthesised, which were recovered from aqueous dispersions in the form of thin polymeric films. Analytical chemistry methods, like gel permeation chromatography with N,N-dimethylacetamide as the polar eluent and high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance and IR spectroscopy, were employed to confirm their chemical structures, to find molecular weights and their distribution and to characterise the polarity of the chemical structure of the polyurethane chain formed.     

Non‐isocyanate synthesis and application of telechelic polyurethanes via polycondensation of diurethanes obtained from ethylene carbonate and diamines

Aliphatic polyurethanes could be obtained in high yield via a non‐isocyanate method based on the self‐polycondensation of dihydroxyurethanes obtained by the reaction of diamines and ethylene carbonate. The polycondensation under a N₂ atmosphere yielded [6,2]polyurethane with a M_n value of 5300 in 87% yield. Two‐step polycondensation, consisting of the polycondensation under a N₂ atmosphere followed by that under reduced pressure, was effective to improve the yield and the molecular weight up to 90% and 10,000, respectively. Although the second polycondensation step at 180 °C was accompanied by formation of urea groups, this side reaction was relatively suppressed at 150 °C. The resulting polyurethane having hydroxyl groups at both of the end groups was converted to polyurethane methacrylate via a reaction with glycidyl methacrylate, and the polyurethane methacrylate served as a crosslinker for radical polymerization of methyl acrylate. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Linear polyurethanes made from threitol: Acetalized and hydroxylated polymers

A set of novel linear polyurethanes was synthesized by reaction in solution of 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) or 4,4′‐methylene‐bis(phenyl diisocyanate) with 2,3‐acetalized threitols, specifically, 2,3‐O‐methylidene‐L ‐threitol and 2,3‐O‐isopropylidene‐D ‐threitol. The polyurethanes containing acetalized threitols had weight‐average molecular weights between 40,000 and 65,000 Da. Most of them were amorphous and they displayed T_g higher than their unsubstituted analogs. Deprotection of acetalized polyurethanes by treatment with acid allowed preparing semicrystalline polyurethanes bearing two free hydroxyl groups in the repeating unit. The crystalline structure and crystallizability of the hydroxylated polyurethane made from HDI were investigated taken as reference the polyurethane made from 1,4‐butanediol and HDI. The hydrolytic degradability of threitol derived polyurethanes was comparatively evaluated under a variety of conditions. Highest degradation rates were obtained upon incubation at pH 10 at temperatures above T_g, the aliphatic hydroxylated polyurethane being the fastest degrading compound. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7996–8012, 2008     

Stereoregular poly‐O‐methyl [m,n]‐polyurethanes derived from D‐mannitol

Novel linear carbohydrate‐derived [m,n]‐polyurethanes are successfully prepared using D ‐mannitol as renewable and low cost starting material. The key comonomer, 1,6‐di‐O‐phenylcarbonyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetra‐O‐methyl‐D ‐mannitol is polymerized with a diamine synthesized from D ‐mannitol or with alkylenediamines. These polymerization reactions afford, respectively, a [6,6]‐polyurethane entirely based on a carbohydrate derivative or [m,n]‐polyurethanes constituted by a poly‐O‐methyl substituted unit alternating with a polymethylene chain. All these polymers are stereoregular, as result of the C₂ axis of symmetry of mannitol. The optically active polyurethanes are characterized by standard methods (FTIR, RMN, GPC, TGA, and DSC). Thus, GPC analysis reveals weight‐average molecular weights between 18,000 and 25,000 Da. Thermal studies (DSC) indicate that the polymers obtained are amorphous materials with T_g values dependent on the structure and chain length of the diamine constituent. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Conformationally restricted linear polyurethanes from acetalized sugar‐based monomers

Linear polyurethanes based on sugar monomers having D ‐gluco, galacto, and D ‐manno configurations and their secondary hydroxyl groups protected as bicyclic acetals, have been prepared by polyaddition reaction of these diol monomers to hexamethylene diisocyanate ( HMDI ) and 4,4′‐methylene‐bis(phenyl isocyanate) ( MDI ). The new polyurethanes seem to be amorphous materials, except that obtained from 2,3:4,5‐di‐O‐methylene‐galactitol and HMDI. Weight‐average molecular weights, determined by GPC, were in the range 16,000–115,200. TGA analyses indicated that the thermal stability of these bicyclic polyurethanes is comparable to those based on the isosorbide; both the onset and the maximum rate decomposition temperatures increased significantly with respect to the polyurethanes based on acyclic sugar monomers. The presence of the acetalized alditol units in the polyurethanes also increased the T_gs as compared with their acyclic analogs. Deacetalization of the polyurethanes containing di‐O‐isopropylidene‐D ‐mannitol units yielded the polyhydroxylated polymers in good yields, without apparent degradation of the polymer chain. These hydroxylated polymers showed an enhanced hydrophilicity and degradability and lower T_gs and thermal stability than their parent acetalized polyurethanes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of well‐defined macromonomers and comb copolymers from polymers made by atom transfer radical polymerization

Poly(n‐butyl acrylate) macromonomers with predetermined molecular weights (1300 < number‐average molecular weight < 23,000) and low polydispersity indices (<1.2) were synthesized from bromine‐terminated atom transfer radical polymerization polymers via end‐group substitution with acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. These macromonomers, having a high degree of end‐group functionalization (>90%), were radically homopolymerized to obtain comb polymers. A high macromonomer concentration, combined with a low radical flux, was needed to obtain a high conversion of the macromonomers and a reasonable degree of polymerization. By the traditional radical copolymerization of the hydrophobic macromonomers with the hydrophilic monomer N,N‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), amphiphilic comb copolymers were obtained. The conversions of the macromonomers and comonomer were almost quantitative under optimized reaction conditions. The molecular weights were high (number‐average molecular weight ≈70,000), and the molecular weight distribution was broad (polydispersity index ≈ 3.5). Kinetic measurements showed simultaneous decreases in the macromonomer and DMAEMA concentrations, indicating a relatively homogeneous composition of the comb copolymers over the whole molecular weight range. This was supported by preparative size exclusion chromatography. The copolymerization of poly(n‐butyl acrylate) macromonomers with other hydrophilic monomers such as acrylic acid or N,N‐dimethylacrylamide gave comb copolymers with multimodal molecular weight distributions in size exclusion chromatography and extremely high apparent molecular weights. Dynamic light scattering showed a heterogeneous composition consisting of small (6–9 nm) and large (23–143 nm) particles, probably micelles or other type of aggregates. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3425–3439, 2003     

Synthesis of hydrophilic polyurethane particles in non-aqueous inverse miniemulsions

It is shown that it is possible to synthesize high molecular weight hydrophilic polyurethane particles by reacting either tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate or isophorone diisocyanate and oligoethylene glycol (M _n ∼200 g mol⁻¹) in non-aqueous inverse emulsions. This procedure offers the advantage that the formation of polyurea can be prevented in consequence of the absence of water in the emulsion. Apparent molecular weights of hydrophilic polyurethane as high as 19,000 g mol⁻¹ (M _n) were obtained.     

Thermal latency of novel chelating borate catalysts as latent catalysts for epoxy–phenolic resins

Novel quaternary ammonium bis(2‐oxybenzoyloxy)borate salts ( 1a – 1c ) or quaternary ammonium bis(1,2‐benzenedioxy)borate salts ( 2a and 2b ) with tetra‐n‐butylammonium (TBA⁺), tetra‐n‐octylammonium (TOA⁺), or bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium (PNP⁺) cations were synthesized as latent catalysts of epoxy/phenol–novolac resins by the complexation between boric acid and salicylic acid or catechol, followed by neutralization with quaternary ammonium hydroxide. Polyaddition reactions of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 4,4′‐bisphenol F (44BPF) or bisphenol F (BPF‐D) with the ammonium borates were investigated as model reactions of epoxy/phenol–novolac resin systems with respect to the thermal latency and storage stability of the catalyst. The polyaddition of DGEBA/44BPF with 1a – 1c in diglyme at 150 °C for 6 h proceeded up to 85–96% conversions and gave polymers with number‐average molecular weights of 4180–10,500, whereas the polyaddition at 80 °C for 6 h gave less than 8% conversions. However, the polyaddition with 2a containing TBA⁺ cation proceeded to only a 32% conversion at 150 °C for 6 h in diglyme and to a 64% conversion even at 180 °C for 6 h in triglyme and only gave low molecular weight oligomers, and no reaction proceeded in the polyaddition at 80 °C. However, polyaddition with 2b containing PNP⁺ cation proceeded up to a 96% conversion at 150 °C for 6 h in diglyme and gave a higher molecular weight polymer with a number‐average molecular weight of 8050, whereas the polyaddition at 80 °C for 6 h gave only a 5% conversion. The catalytic activity of ammonium borates 1a – 1c and 2a and 2b depended on the borate anion structure: 1a and 1c with bis(2‐oxybenzoyloxy)borate anion revealed higher activity than 2a and 2b with bis(1,2‐benzenedioxy)borate anion, respectively. In comparison with tetra‐n‐butylammonium bromide (TBAB) as a conventional ammonium salt or tetra‐n‐butylammonium tetrakis(benzoyloxy)borate (TBA‐TBB), 1a – 1c and 2b revealed better thermal latency. The catalytic activity of ammonium borates also depended on the bulkiness of the ammonium cation, and the order of activity was 1c (PNP⁺) > 1b (TOA⁺) ≧ 1a (TBA⁺) and 2b (PNP⁺) > 2a (TBA⁺). The storage stability of DGEBA/BPF‐D with the ammonium borate catalysts 1a – 1c and 2a and 2b in bulk at 40 °C was much better than that with TBAB and TBA‐TBB. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2702–2716, 2002     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorine‐containing polyesters by the polyaddition of bis(epoxide)s with active diesters

The synthesis and optical properties of polyesters with pendant fluorinated phenoxy groups were examined. The polyaddition of bisphenol AF diglycidyl ether ( 1 ) with fluorine‐containing terephtalates ( 2a–f ) was carried out with tetrabutylphosphonium chloride (TBPC) as the catalyst in chlorobenzene to afford the corresponding polyesters with number‐average molecular weights (M_n's) ranging from 15,200 to 30,000 in 88–96% yields. Furthermore, the polyaddition of 1 with isophthalate 2g and phthalate 2h also produced high‐molecular‐weight polyesters with M_n's = 22,700 and 22,600 in 88 and 84% yields, respectively. The linear relationship was observed between the fluorine contents and refractive indices of the obtained polyesters. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 213–222, 2003     

Synthesis and ESCA surface studies of octadecyl chain-extended polyurethanes

Poly(ether urethane)s as biomaterials display certain favorable mechanical and biocompatibility properties. Earlier studies suggest that improved blood compatibility might be attained by introducing hydrocarbon groups at the surface. We synthesized and characterized a series of polyurethanes in which a N-2,3-dihydroxypropyl-N′-octadecyl urea chain extender (ODCE) was incorporated into the poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMO)/4,4′-methylenebis(phenylene isocyanate) (MDI) system. Molecular weights of the polymers varied between 40,000 and 250,000. An electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) study of the ODCE polyurethane surface revealed a substantially enhanced hydrocarbon concentration compared to a control PTMO/MDI/ethylene diamine (ED) polyurethane surface. Also, bulk composition analyses and ESCA data of the ODCE polymers indicated that the percentage of carbon was higher in the surface region than in the bulk. Thus, the ODCE polymer showed a marked increase in hard-segment concentration in the surface region compared to the bulk region and to the ED polymer.     

Pd(0)‐catalyzed polyaddition of bifunctional vinyloxiranes with phenol derivatives: The synthesis of polymers containing an allyl aryl ether moiety in the main chain

The palladium(0)‐catalyzed polyaddition of bifunctional vinyloxiranes [1,4‐bis(2‐vinylepoxyethyl)benzene ( 1a ) and 1,4‐bis(1‐methyl‐2‐vinylepoxyethyl)benzene ( 1b )] with oxygen nucleophiles such as hydroquinone and bisphenol A gave new unsaturated polyethers containing an allyl aryl ether moiety and pendant hydroxy groups. The polyaddition with 1a was largely affected by the phosphine ligands employed and the reaction temperature. The polyaddition with hydroquinone and bisphenol A was conducted at room temperature for 24 h in tetrahydrofuran in the presence of PPh₃ and gave the desired polyethers in good yields, the number‐average molecular weights (M_n) of which were 5700 and 7700, respectively. 1,2‐Bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) was not effective in the polyaddition with 1a . The polyaddition of 1b with hydroquinone and bisphenol A gave the corresponding polyethers despite the kinds of ligands employed (PPh₃ and dppe), contrary to the polyaddition with 1a . The polyaddition of 1b with 4,4′‐biphenol was also carried out in the presence of Pd₂(dba)₃ · CHCl₃/dppe as a catalyst (where dba is dibenzylideneacetone) and afforded the expected polyether with a high M_n value (M_n = 24,900). In addition, vinyloxirane 1b could reacted with racemic 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol to give the corresponding polyether in a good yield. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 476–482, 2003     

Novel synthesis of polyphosphonates by the polyaddition of bis(epoxide) with diaryl phosphonates

The polyaddition of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BPGE) with bis(4‐chlorophenyl) phenylphosphonate was carried out using quaternary onium salts or crown ether complexes as catalysts. When the polyaddition was performed using tetrabutylammonium chloride, tetrabutylphosphonium chloride, or 18‐crown‐6/KCl in N‐ methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone at 110°C for 48 h, the corresponding polyphosphonate with moderated molecular weights was obtained in 88–96% yields. The structure of the resulting polyphosphonate was confirmed by IR and ¹H‐NMR spectra. The polyaddition of BPGE with various diaryl phosphonates also proceeded very smoothly to produce the corresponding polyphosphonates with moderate molecular weights. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 959–965, 1999     

Polyaddition reaction in a dispersed medium: elaboration of new core-shell polyurethane particles

The elaboration in a dispersed organic medium of calibrated polyurethane particles with a core-shell structure is presented in this paper. The objective could be achieved by using a series of reactive steric stabilizers of the type ω-(OH)_x-poly(n-butyl acrylate), -polystyrene, -polysiloxane or -polybutadiene (x=1 or 2) that play the role of surfmers during the polyaddition reaction between ethylene glycol and tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate, in cyclohexane as a dispersant medium. The final size of the polyurethane particles (0,5-10 μm) was found to be a function of the steric stabilizer characteristics (nature, molar mass and concentration) and of the addition procedure of the different reactants. These novel particles constituted of a polyurethane core and various shells depending on the stabilizer used exhibit specific and original properties.     

Synthesis of polyurethanes containing nucleic acid base derivatives as grafted pendants and their precursor amino functionalized polyurethane

A new route to polyurethanes containing nucleic acid base derivatives as grafted pendants have been established. The method is based on the grafting of 2-(thymin-1-yl)propionic acid (TPA) or 2-(adenin-9-yl)propionic acid (APA) onto amino functionalized polyurethane, poly[2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propylene methylene bis(4-phenyl carbamate)] (PU-NH₂, IX ) at the primary amino group by the N-hydroxy compound of active ester technique. Two novel polymer models of polynucleic acid—poly[2-(2′-(thymin-1′-yl) propionamido)-2-methyl-1,3-propylene methylene bis(4-phenylcarbamate)] (PU–NHT, X ) and poly[2-(2′-(adenin-9′-yl)propionamido)-2-methyl-1,3-propylene methylene bis(4-phenylcarbamate)] (PU–NHA-40, XI )—were obtained. The amino functional polyurethane was prepared by the following three step reactions; (1) Selective N-protection of N-benzyloxycarbonyloxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarbonimide (CbzONB) with 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol gave the N-protecting diol monomer 2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (CbzAMP); (2) N-Protecting polurethane poly(2-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-methyl-methyl-1,3) propylene methylene bis(4-phenylcarbamate) (PU–NHCbz, VIII ) was obtained by the polyaddition of 4,4′-diphenyl-methane diisocyanate (MDI) with CbzAMP. (3) Deprotection of PU–NHCbz produced amino polyurethane PU-NH₂. Prior to polymer synthesis, the amidation of APA with 3-aminoheptane or diethylamine were carried out as a model reaction study and the related monomer model compounds were prepared by the same methods.     

Synthesis of polymers with pendant hydroxyl groups by polyaddition of bis(oxetane)s with dithiols

Addition reaction of (3-methyl-3-oxetanyl)methyl acetate (MOMA) with bis(4-mercaptophenyl) sulfide (BMPS) was examined in certain organic solvents. When the reaction of MOMA with BMPS was performed without any catalyst in hexamethylphosphoric triamide (HMPA) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) at 130°C for 24 h, conversions of the corresponding adduct were 96 and 36%, respectively, which was confirmed by ¹H-NMR spectra. On the other hand, when the reaction was carried out using tetraphenylphosphonium bromide (TPPB) as a catalyst under the same conditions, conversions of the adduct were 96 and 81% in HMPA and NMP, respectively. This result shows that although the addition reaction of oxetane compound with aromatic dithiol proceeds without any catalyst in HMPA, the reaction was strongly enhanced by adding TPPB in NMP. On the basis of the above results, polyadditions of bis((3-methyl-3-oxetanyl)methyl) terephthalate (BMOT) and bis((3-ethyl-3-oxetanyl)methyl) terephthalate with BMPS were performed using TPPB as the catalyst in NMP at 130°C for 24 h. As a result, the corresponding high molecular weight polymers 1 (M_n = 22,400) and 2 (M_n = 12,800) with pendant primary hydroxyl groups were obtained in 83 and 89% yields without any gel products, respectively. Furthermore, a low molecular weight oligomer was obtained from the polyaddition of BMOT with aliphatic dithiol, bis(mercaptomethyl)benzene, under the same reaction conditions. The catalytic activity on the polyaddition of BMOT with BMPS was also examined, and it was found that thermally stable TPPB and crown ether complexes at the reaction temperature (130°C) have higher catalytic activity than tetrabutylammonium bromide and tetrabutylphosphonium bromide to produce polymer 1 with high molecular weight. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2873–2880, 1998     

Optically-active polyurethanes containing coumarin dimer component: Synthesis,characterization, and chiral recognition ability

Optically-active polyurethanes ( 2a-2c ) were prepared by polyaddition reaction of diamide ( 1a, 1b ) and diester ( 1c ) derivatives of chiral coumarin dimer with 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) in chloroform and methyl ethyl ketone, respectively. The inherent viscosity of the polyurethanes are between 0.13 and 0.21 dL/g in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) at 30°C. Treated silica gels were absorbed with ca. 25 wt % of the polyurethanes, and packed as chiral stationary phases for direct optical resolution of 16 racemates with aromatic groups by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Polyurethanes 2a and 2b , obtained from diamide derivatives, show efficient resolution ability to some of the racemates (α = 1.06-1.79), especially the atropic ( R5 ) and trans ( R6-R9 ) isomers. The recognition ability of the polyurethanes can be attributed to the simultaneous aromatic stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions with racemates. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of self‐healing polyurethane urea‐based supramolecular materials

Supramolecular polyurethane ureas are expected to have superior mechanical properties primarily due to the reversible, noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding interactions. We synthesized polyurethane prepolymers from small molecular weight of poly(tetramethylene ether)glycol and isophorone diisocyanates, which were end capped with propylamine to synthesize polyurethane ureas with high contents of urea and urethane groups for hydrogen‐bonding formations to facilitate self‐healing. The effects of polyurethane urea molecular weight (3000 ≤ M_n ≤ 9000), crosslinking, and cutting direction were studied in terms of thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties with an emphasis on the self‐healing efficiency. It was found that the thermal self‐healability was more pronounced as the molecular weight of polyurethane urea decreased, showing a maximum of more than 96% with 3000 M_n when the sample was cut along the stretch direction. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 468–474     

Synthesis of head‐to‐tail polyurethanes from nonsymmetric diisocyanate and ethylene glycol with organotin catalysts

An ordered head‐to‐tail (HT) polyurethane was successfully prepared by the polyaddition reaction of p‐isocyanatobenzyl isocyanate with ethylene glycol with dibutyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. Furthermore, the HT regularity of polyurethane was improved to 83% with 1,1,3,3‐tetraphenyl‐1,3‐dichlorodistannoxane. The polymerization was conducted in N,N‐dimethylformamide at 30 °C with both monomers mixed at once. The microstructure of the polymer was investigated by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and the polymer obtained by the polyaddition reaction had the expected HT linkages. The constitutional regularity of the polymers influenced the thermal properties and crystallinity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 416–429, 2001