New gem-dicyanocyclobutane-containing hydroxyesters

Six new gem-dicyanocyclobutanes containing carbomethoxy and hydroxyl/acetoxy functions were synthesized by cycloaddition of the appropriate vinyl ethers or alkoxystyrenes to methyl β,β-dicyanoacrylate. They proved to be too thermally labile to allow polycondensation to potentially piezoelectric linear polyesters.