| Abstract: | The meso- and d,l-diastereomers of o-bis(epoxyethyl)benzene have been synthesized and identified. The diastereomers were polymerized by a variety of catalysts to give a polymer which has mainly isochroman recurring units as a result of a cyclopolymerization mechanism. Some features of the polymerization with the triisobutylaluminum catalyst system have been studied. The rates of polymerization of the monomers and the transition temperatures of the resulting polymers have been determined. The results are explained on the basis of a controlled intramolecular propagation and a stereospecific polymerization. |
