Alternating Intramolecular and Intermolecular Catalyst‐Transfer Suzuki–Miyaura Condensation Polymerization: Synthesis of Boronate‐Terminated π‐Conjugated Polymers Using Excess Dibromo Monomers

The Suzuki–Miyaura coupling polymerization of dibromoarene 1 and arylenediboronic acid (ester) 2 with a Pd catalyst having a high propensity for intramolecular catalyst transfer is reported. The polymerization of excess 1 with 2 affords high‐molecular‐weight π‐conjugated polymer having boronic acid (ester) moieties at both ends, contrary to Flory's principle. This unstoichiometric polycondensation behavior is accounted for by intramolecular transfer of the Pd catalyst on 1 . In the polymerization of 1 and 2 having different aryl residues, high‐molecular‐weight polymer is obtained when the stronger donor aromatic is used as the dibromo monomer and the weaker donor or acceptor aromatic is used as diboronic acid (ester) monomer. The pinacol boronate moieties at both ends of the obtained poly(p‐phenylene) (PPP) can be converted to benzoic acid ester, hydroxyl group, and bromine. Furthermore, the reaction of the pinacol boronate‐terminated PPP with poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) having bromine at one end yields a triblock copolymer of P3HT‐b‐PPP‐b‐P3HT.

     

Synthesis of Poly[2‐decyloxy‐5‐(4′‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] as a Light Emitting Material

In this study, a new electroluminescent poly(2‐decyloxy‐5‐(4′‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylene‐vinylene) (designated as DBP‐PPV) with no tolane‐bis–benzyl (TBB) structure defect was prepared by dehydrohalogenation of 1,4‐bisbromomethyl‐2‐decyloxy‐5‐(4′‐tert‐butyl‐phenyl) benzene (as monomer). The monomer bearing decyloxy and 4′‐tert‐butylphenyl substituents was synthesized via alkylation, bromination and Suzuki coupling reactions. The two asymmetric substituents of the monomer can suppress the formation of TBB defect during polymerization process and make the resultant polymer be soluble in common organic solvents. The structure and properties of DBP‐PPV were examined by ¹H‐NMR, FT‐IR, UV/Vis, TGA and photoluminescence (PL) analyses. Moreover, with the DBP‐PPV acting as a light‐emitting polymer, a device with sequential lamination of ITO/PEDOT/DBP‐PPV/Ca/Ag was fabricated. The electroluminescence (EL) spectrum of the device showed a maximum emission at around 546 nm, corresponding to a yellowish‐green light. The device showed a turn‐on voltage of about 8.4 V and a maximum luminescence efficiency of 0.11 cd/A at an applied voltage of 12 V.     

Poly(p-phenylenes) with well-defined side chain polymers

1,4-Dibromo-2,5-bis(bromomethyl)benzene and benzene-2,5-dibromomethyl-1,4-bis(boronic acid propanediol diester) were used as bifunctional initiators in Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) of styrene or in cationic ring opening polymerization (CROP) of tetrahydrofuran in conjunction with CuBr /2,2'-bipyridine or AgSbF₆, respectively. The resulting well-defined macromonomers with low polydispersities, bearing functional groups as bromine or boronic ester were used in Suzuki or Yamamoto type couplings, leading to poly(p-phenylene)s (PPPs) with polystyrene (PSt), polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) or alternating PSt/PTHF side chains. The new polymers were characterized by GPC, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR and UV analysis. Thermal behavior of the precursors PSt or PTHF macromonomers and the final polyphenylenes were investigated by TGA and DSC analyses and compared.     

Catalyst‐Transfer Suzuki–Miyaura Condensation Polymerization of Stilbene Monomer: Different Polymerization Behavior Depending on Halide and Aryl Group of ArPd(tBu3P)X Initiator

We report Suzuki–Miyaura coupling polymerization of tetraalkoxy‐substituted 4‐bromostilbene‐4′‐boronic acid 1 with several t‐Bu₃P‐ligated Pd initiators; this is the first example of catalyst‐transfer condensation polymerization (CTCP) of a monomer containing a carbon–carbon double bond. When o‐tolylPd(^tBu₃P)Br was used as the initiator, the o‐tolyl group was not introduced at the polymer end, but polymer with boronic acid at one end and bromine at the other was obtained. However, when we employed stilbenePd(^tBu₃P)I generated in situ from iodostilbene and Pd(^tBu₃P)G2 precatalyst, or isolated ArPd(^tBu₃P)X (Ar, X = Ph, I; o‐tolyl, I; and Ph, Br), the aryl group was introduced at the polymer end, indicating that CTCP of 1 proceeded. Therefore, the iodide and aryl group of the Pd initiator complex is crucial for CTCP of 1 . However, the molecular weight distribution of the obtained polymer was broad, possibly because coordination of the carbon–carbon double bond of 1 to ArPd(^tBu₃P)I resulted in slow initiation. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 297–304     

Investigation of catalyst‐transfer condensation polymerization for synthesis of poly(p‐phenylenevinylene)

Kumada‐Tamao coupling polymerization of 1,4‐dialkoxy‐2‐bromo‐5‐(2‐chloromagnesiovinyl)benzene ( 1 ) and 1,4‐dialkoxy‐2‐(2‐bromovinyl)‐5‐chloromagnesiobenzene ( 2 ) with a Ni catalyst and Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling polymerization of 2‐{2‐[(2,5‐dialkoxy‐4‐iodophenyl)]vinyl}‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolane ( 3 ), its bromo counterpart 4 , and 2,5‐dialkoxy‐4‐(2‐bromovinyl)phenylboronic acid ( 5 ) with a Pd initiator were investigated under catalyst‐transfer condensation polymerization conditions for the synthesis of well‐defined poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV). The Kumada‐Tamao polymerization of vinyl Grignard‐type monomer 1 with Ni(dppp)Cl₂ at room temperature did not proceed, whereas aryl Grignard‐type monomer 2 afforded oligomers of low molecular weight. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectra of the polymer obtained from 2 implied that the Grignard end group reacted with tetrahydrofuran to terminate polymerization. On the other hand, Suzuki‐Miyaura polymerization of vinyl boronic acid ester type monomers 3 and 4 and phenylboronic acid type monomer 5 with a Pd initiator and aqueous KOH at ?20 °C to room temperature yielded the corresponding PPV with high molecular weight within a few minutes. However, the molecular weight distribution was broad, and MALDI‐TOF mass spectra showed the peaks of polymers bearing no initiator unit at the chain end, as well as those of polymers with the initiator unit. These results indicated that intermolecular chain transfer of the Pd catalyst occurred. Dehalogenation and disproportionation of the growing end also took place as side reactions. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2643‐2653     

Synthesis of Branched Ribo‐Polysaccharides with Defined Structures by Ring‐Opening Polymerization of 1,4‐Anhydro Ribo‐Disaccharide Monomer

Ring‐opening polymerization of a new 1,4‐anhydro‐disaccharide monomer, 1,4‐anhydro‐2‐O‐benzyl‐3‐O‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐benzyl‐β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl)‐α‐D ‐ribopyranose, which was prepared by the glycosylation of 1,4‐anhydro‐2‐O‐benzyl‐α‐D ‐ribopyranose with 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐1‐O‐trichloroacetimidoyl‐α‐D ‐galactopyranose, was performed for the first time with boron trifluoride etherate to give stereoregular branched ribofuranans having high molecular weights of M̄_n = 43.0×10³ and positive specific rotation of [α]_D²⁵ = +25.1 deg·dm^–1· g^–1·cm³. The repalcement of the benzyl group by a hydroxyl group gave stereoregular 1,5‐α‐D ‐ribofuranans having a β‐D ‐galactopyranose branch in every repeating unit. The copolymerization of the ribo‐disaccharide monomer with 1,4‐anhydro‐2,3‐di‐O‐benzyl‐α‐D ‐ribopyranose was also carried out to afford stereoregular 1,5‐α‐D ‐ribofuranans having randomly distributed galactopyranose branches on the main chain.     

Investigation of catalyst‐transfer condensation polymerization for the synthesis of n‐type π‐conjugated polymer,poly(2‐dioxaalkylpyridine‐3,6‐diyl)

Kumada‐Tamao coupling polymerization of 6‐bromo‐3‐chloromagnesio‐2‐(3‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)propyl)pyridine 1 with a Ni catalyst and Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling polymerization of boronic ester monomer 2 , which has the same substituted pyridine structure, with ^tBu₃PPd(o‐tolyl)Br were investigated for the synthesis of a well‐defined n‐type π‐conjugated polymer. We first carried out a model reaction of 2,5‐dibromopyridine with 0.5 equivalent of phenylmagnesium chloride in the presence of Ni(dppp)Cl₂ and then observed exclusive formation of 2,5‐diphenylpyridine, indicating that successive coupling reaction took place via intramolecular transfer of Ni(0) catalyst on the pyridine ring. Then, we examined the Kumada‐Tamao polymerization of 1 and found that it proceeded homogeneously to afford soluble, regioregular head‐to‐tail poly(pyridine‐2,5‐diyl), poly(3‐(2‐(2‐(methoxyethoxy)propyl)pyridine) (PMEPPy). However, the molecular weight distribution of the polymers obtained with several Ni and Pd catalysts was very broad, and the matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectra showed that the polymer had Br/Br and Br/H end groups, implying that the catalyst‐transfer polymerization is accompanied with disproportionation. Suzuki‐Miyaura polymerization of 2 with ^tBu₃PPd(o‐tolyl)Br also afforded PMEPPy with a broad molecular weight distribution, and the tolyl/tolyl‐ended polymer was a major product, again indicating the occurrence of disproportionation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

(Hetero) Arylene Polymers Having Polystyrene Chains as Branches

Summary : Four monomers; 1,4-bis(1-naphthyl) benzene ( 5 and 7 ) and 1,4-bis(2- thienyl)benzene ( 6 and 8 ) containing one or two polystyrene short chains substituted in 2 or 2, 5 positions of central phenylene ring were synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction of two polystyrene based macromonomers ( 3 and 4 ) with 1-naphthalene- and 2-thiophene boronic acid, respectively. By chemical oxidative polymerization using FeCl₃ as oxidant, copolymers containing alternating phenylene and binaphthyl ( 9 , 11 ) or phenylene and bithienyl groups ( 10 , 12 ) and polystyrene as side chains have obtained. The exact control of polystyrene branch length was performed by atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene using as initiators 1,4 dibromo-2-(bromomethyl)benzene ( 1 ) and 1,4-dibromo-2,5 di(bromomethyl)benzene ( 2 ). Polymers were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, UV and fluorescence spectroscopy and thermal methods.     

Thermal degradation of poly(p-phenylene-graft-?-caprolactone) copolymer

The thermal degradation of poly(p-phenylene-graft-?-caprolactone) (PPP), synthesized by Suzuki polycondensation of poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) with a central 2,5-dibromo-1,4-benzene on the chain with 1,4-phenylene-diboronic acid, has been studied via direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry. The thermal degradation occurred mainly in two steps. In the first step, decomposition of PCL chains occurred. A slight increase in thermal stability of PCL chains was noted. In the second stage of pyrolysis, the decomposition of the polyphenylene backbone takes place. The evolution of CL monomer or small CL segments left on the phenyl ring continued also in the temperature region where degradation of PPP backbone started.     

Synthesis and ring-opening polymerization of new 1,4-anhydro-glucopyranose derivatives

Three new 1,4-anhydro-glucopyranose derivatives having different hydroxyl protective groups such as 1,4-anhydro-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-α-D -glucopyranose (AMGLU), 1,4-anhydro-6-O-benzyl-2,3-di-O-methyl-α-D -glucopyranose (A6BMG), and 1,4-anhydro-2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-trityl-α-D -glucopyranose (A6TMG) were synthesized from methyl α-D -glucopyranoside in good yields. Their polymerizability was compared with that of 1,4-anhydro-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-D -glucopyranose (ABGLU) reported previously. The trimethylated monomer, AMGLU, was polymerized by a PF₅ catalyst to give 1,5-α-furanosidic polymer having number-average molecular weights (M̄_n) in the range of 2.8 × 10³ to 6.8 × 10³. The ¹³C-NMR spectrum was compared with that of methylated amylose and cellulose. Other anhydro monomers, A6BMG and A6TMG, gave the corresponding 1,5-α furanosidic polymers having M̄_n = 17.1 × 10³ and 1.8 × 10³, respectively. Thus, the substituents at the C2 and C6 positions were found to play an important role for the ring-opening polymerizability of the 1,4-anhydro-glucose monomers. In addition, debenzylation of the tribenzylated polymer gave free (1 → 5)-α-D -glucofuranan. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 841–850, 1998     

Formation of stereodefined multiply substituted all-cis octatetraenes, tricyclo[4.2.0.0]octa-3,7-dienes and pentalenes via CuCl- or FeCl3-mediated dimerization of 1-lithiobutadienes and 1,4-dilithiobutadienes

Dimerization of 1-lithiobutadienes and 1,4-dilithiobutadienes depended remarkably on the substituents and metal halide reagents. Stereodefined multiply-substituted linear all-cis octatetraenes were prepared in moderate yields via FeCl₃-mediated dimerization of 1-lithiobutadienes, while CuCl induced the dimerization of alkyl-substituted 1,4-dilithio-1,3-dienes to form linear all-cis octatetraenes and tricyclo[4.2.0.0^2,5]octa-3,7-dienes. Interestingly, stereodefined pentalene derivatives were also obtained when 1,4-dilithio-1,3-dienes possessed both phenyl and alkyl substituents.     

Synthesis and characterization of comb-like polyphenylenes via Suzuki coupling of polystyrene macromonomers prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization

1,4-Dibromo-2,5-bis(bromomethyl)benzene was used as initiator in atom transfer radical polymerization of styrene in conjunction with CuBr/2,2^′-bipyridine as catalyst. The resulting macromonomer, with a central 2,5 dibromobenzene ring and the degree of polymerization of 16 at each side, was used in combination with 2,5-dihexylbenzene-1,4-diboronic acid, for a Suzuki coupling in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄ as catalyst. The obtained polyphenylene, with alternating polystyrene and hexyl side chains, has high solubility in common organic solvents at room temperature. The new polymer was characterized by GPC, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR and UV analysis. Thermal behavior of the precursor polystyrene macromonomer and the final polyphenylene was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimeter/calorimetry analyses and compared.     

Demonstration of isospecific free radical polymerization of acrylate controlled by conformation and chirality of monomer

Radical polymerization of lactic acid‐based chiral and achiral methylene dioxolanones, a model for conformationally s‐cis locked acrylate, was carried out with AIBN to demonstrate an isospecific free radical polymerization controlled by chirality and conformation of monomer. Polymerization of the dioxolanones proceeded smoothly without ring opening to give a polymer with moderate molecular weight and 100% of maximum isotacticity. ESR spectrum indicated a twisted conformation of the growing poly(methylene dioxolanone) radical in contrast to an acyclic analogous radical, suggesting a restriction of the free rotation around main chain C_α? C_β bond of the growing radical center. Chirality as well as the polarity and bulkiness of monomer affected the polymer tacticity, and chiral alkyl substituent would afford a high isotactic polymer, in which higher the enantiomeric excess of the monomer was, higher the isotacticity of the polymer was. While, achiral or polar substituents including dibenzyl and trichloromethyl groups would afford an atactic polymer. In addition, glass transition temperature (T_g) of the resulting polymers was significantly high, ranging from 172.2 to 229.8 °C, and even for an isotactic polymer T_g was as high as 206.8 °C. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2007–2016     

Structure and reactivity in cationic polymerization of butadiene derivatives. III. 2-phenylbutadiene

Cationic polymerization of 2-phenylbutadiene (2-PBD) has been investigated. Polymerization were performed by SnCl₄·TCA, WCl₆, and BF₃·OEt₂ as catalysts in methylene chloride. 2-PBD polymerized easily and gave low molecular weight polymers. The polymerization proceeded to give a polymer having 1,4-structure without 1,2- or 3,4-structure. The double bonds of the polymer were partially consumed, probably owing to cyclization and chain-transfer reactions. 2-PBD was 0.66 times as reactive as styrene and 1.2 times as reactive as isoprene in the copolymerization at ?78°C by SnCl₄·TCA in methylene chloride. Reactivities of ring-substituted 2-PBD obeyed the Hammett relation with ρ⁺ = ?2.04. The ¹³C chemical shift of ring-substituted 2-PBD was measured. Chemical shift values for C₁ and C₃ were correlated with Hammett σ, but those for C₂ and C₄ were almost unaffected by the substituents. On the basis of experimental results, the transition state of the cationic polymerization of 2-PBD was depicted as a benzylic cation rather than a phenylallylic one.     

Homoleptic lanthanide guanidinate complexes: The effective initiators for the polymerization of trimethylene carbonate and its copolymerization with ε‐caprolactone

The ring‐opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) using homoleptic lanthanide guanidinate complexes [RNC(NR′₂)NR]₃Ln as single component initiators has been fully investigated for the first time. The substituents on guanidinate ligands and center metals show great effect on the catalytic activities of these complexes, that is, ? N(CH₂)₅ > ? NⁱPr₂ > ? NPh₂ (for R′), ? Cy > ? ⁱPr (for R), and Yb > Sm > Nd. Among them, [Ph₂NC(NCy)₂]₃Yb shows the highest catalytic activity. Some features and kinetic behaviors of the TMC polymerization initiated by [Ph₂NC(NCy)₂]₃Yb were studied in detail. The polymerization rate is first order, with the monomer concentration and M_n of the polymer increasing with the polymer yield increasing linearly. The results indicated the present system having “living character.” A mechanism that the polymerization occurs via acyl‐oxygen bond cleavage rather than alkyl‐oxygen bond cleavage was proposed. The copolymerization of TMC with ?‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) initiated by [Ph₂NC(NCy)₂]₃Yb was also tested. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1778–1786, 2005     

Polymerization of 1,3‐dienes with functional groups. II. Free‐radical polymerization of N‐(2‐methylene‐3‐butenoyl)piperidine

The free‐radical homopolymerization and copolymerization behavior of N‐(2‐methylene‐3‐butenoyl)piperidine was investigated. When the monomer was heated in bulk at 60 °C for 25 h without an initiator, about 30% of the monomer was consumed by the thermal polymerization and the Diels–Alder reaction. No such side reaction was observed when the polymerization was carried out in a benzene solution with 1 mol % 2,2′‐azobisisobutylonitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The polymerization rate equation was found to be R_p ∝ [AIBN]^0.507[M]^1.04, and the overall activation energy of polymerization was calculated to be 89.5 kJ/mol. The microstructure of the resulting polymer was exclusively a 1,4‐structure that included both 1,4‐E and 1,4‐Z configurations. The copolymerizations of this monomer with styrene and/or chloroprene as comonomers were carried out in benzene solutions at 60 °C with AIBN as an initiator. In the copolymerization with styrene, the monomer reactivity ratios were r₁ = 6.10 and r₂ = 0.03, and the Q and e values were calculated to be 10.8 and 0.45, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1545–1552, 2003     

Synthesis,polymerization, and thermal properties of a new acetylene-terminated schiff base

A new acetylene-terminated Schiff base monomer, N,N′-(1,4-phenylenedimethylidyne)-bis-(4-ethynylaniline) (PPP), was synthesized and was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. This monomer was then polymerized to yield a new polymer (PPPP) with alternating units of aromatic imine and diacetylene via an oxidative coupling polymerization of the acetylenic terminal groups. The monomer was also polymerized by thermal curing at elevated temperatures up to 400°C to afford a crosslinked polymer network without significant structural decomposition. Thermal properties and thermal reactions of the monomer and the polymers were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The polymers exhibit excellent thermal stabilities in an inert atmosphere. Electronic properties of the polymers are also discussed.     

Synthesis,optical, and electrochemical properties of novel copolymers on the basis of benzothiadiazole and electron‐rich arene units

Novel alternating conjugated copolymers ( P1–P6 ) consisting of an electron‐deficient benzothiadiazole and a variety of electron‐rich thiophene‐arene‐thiophene units were synthesized by palladium‐catalyzed polycondensations (Stille and Suzuki reactions), aiming at processable materials with a reduced optical band gap. The structures of P1–P6 were confirmed by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR, and their molecular weights were determined by size exclusion chromatography. In the Suzuki polycondensation, the role of the catalyst [Pd(PPh₃)₄ and Pd(OAc)₂] on the resulting molecular weight was investigated. Pd(OAc)₂ enhances the molecular weight of the polymers for both thiophene and phenylene bis‐boronic esters as compared with Pd(PPh₃)₄. The optical properties of the polymers were examined in solution and the solid state. The polymers with n‐octyl substituents ( P1 , P4 , P5 , and P6 ) on the thiophene rings possessed less‐planar structures as a result of torsional steric hindrance, and their absorption spectra appeared blueshifted as compared with their unsubstituted analogues ( P2 and P3 ). The electrochemical properties of the polymers were studied using cyclic voltammetry. Although the alkyl substitution affects the oxidation potential, only marginal differences in the reduction potentials were observed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2360–2372, 2002     

On the mechanism of formation of isotactic and syndiotactic polydiolefins

The mode of formation of isotactic and syndiotactic polymers from 1,3-dienes is examined in the light of the most recent results. An interpretation is given for the formation of trans-1,4 isotactic polymers from CH₂=CH-CH=CHR (R = Me, Et, Pr, etc.) type monomers with heterogeneous VCl₃-based catalysts. Evidence is reported showing that stereoregular 1,2 or cis-1,4 polymers derive from a growing polymer chain anti-η³-bonded to the transition metal and a cis-η⁴ coordinated monomer. The influence on stereoselectivity of the substituents at the central carbon atoms of the monomer is discussed. The peculiar behavior of (Z)-1,3-pentadiene and 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene, which give 1,2 polymers with catalysts that give 1,4 polymers from other monomers, is attributable to the fact that they can coordinate trans-η², in addition to cis-η⁴.     

Bis allyl benzoxazine: Synthesis, polymerisation and polymer properties

A bis benzoxazine monomer with allyl groups viz: 2,2′-bis (8-allyl-3-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazinyl) propane (Bz-allyl) was synthesized via a solventless method from 2,2′diallyl bisphenol-A, paraformaldehyde and aniline. The chemical structure of Bz-allyl was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analyses. The monomer manifested a two-stage thermal polymerisation pattern. The first stage was attributed to the polymerisation of the allyl groups and the second to the ring - opening polymerisation of benzoxazine moiety. The polymerisation profile was investigated with DSC, FT-IR, TGA and pyrolysis-GC techniques. A polymerisation mechanism involving the electrophilic addition of the propagating iminium cation on the aniline ring in lieu of the activated sites of bisphenol-A, (which are blocked by allyl and alkyl substituents) was proposed. Additional cross-linking was provided by thermal addition polymerization of allyl groups. As a result of altered cross-linking via the aniline moiety and the additional cross-linking via allyl groups, the cured polymer exhibited a T_g of ca. 300 °C and high crosslink density. The thermal stability of this polymer was also substantially higher vis-à-vis that of the bisphenol-A based polybenzoxazine. The work focuses on the manipulation of benzoxazine monomer structure to alter the ring-opening polymerisation mechanism and cross-linking to derive polybenzoxazine with improved properties.