Solid state polymerization of butadienes. Polymerization of long chain derivatives of sorbic and muconic acid

The polymerization of long chain derivatives of sorbic and muconic acid was studied in the solid state. Crystals of sorbic acid n-octadecylester (1), sorbic acid n-octadecylamide (2), and 6-n-octadecanoylamino sorbic acid (3) were found to rapidly polymerize upon UV- or-irradiation. A 1,4-trans-polymer was obtained in a high yield. Crystals of muconic acid di-n-octadecylester (4) and muconic acid di-n-octadecylamide (5) were completely photoinactive.Polymerization of3 was also investigated in monomolecular layers at the air-water interface and in Langmuir-blodgett type multilayers. The polymer formed upon UV- irradiation of mono- and multilayers was identified by infrared spectroscopy as the 1,4-trans-adduct.