Investigation of polymerization and copolymerization of 9-vinyl-anthracenes

The processes accompanying homopolymerization and copolymerization of 9-vinyl-anthracene (9-VA) and 9,10-vinyl-10-methyl-anthracene (9,10-VMA) were investigated. It was shown by electronic spectra that free-radical copolymerization of 9-VA and 9,10-VMA with methyl methacrylate yielded copolymers containing units of 9-methylene-9,10-dihydroanthracene structure. Acidic treatment of the copolymer solutions led to rearrangement of these units into 9,10-dialkylanthracene units incorporated into the main chain of the macromolecule. The position of anthracene-containing units in the chains was determined from fluorescence data.Free-radical isomerization copolymerization of 9-vinyl-anthracenes was used for obtaining model polymers with fluorescent marks incorporated into the backbone. These polymers are necessary for investigating intramolecular motion of macromolecules by the method of polarization of fluorescence.