| Abstract: | Polymerization conditions of di-t-butyl fumarate and di-trimethylsilyl fumarate were studied in detail. They cannot be polymerized by either anionic or coordination initiators, but radical and radiation polymerizations are successful. Characterization of poly(di-t-butyl fumarate), obtained thereby, with 1H-NMR spectrum suggests that the backbone of the chain is stiff. From analysis of thermal properties of poly(di-t-butyl fumarate), it is found to be completely converted to poly(fumaric acid) by pyrolysis around 200°C. Poly(di-trimethylsilyl fumarate), on the other hand, can be quantitatively hydrolyzed with acid to the same polyacid, too. The preliminary measurement of the dissociation behaviors of poly(fumaric acid) was done by potentiometric titration, which shows that the titration curves of poly(fumaric acid) are different from those of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(maleic acid). |
