Reactivity of 4-halogeno 1-vinyl naphthalenes in cationic polymerization

Improved methods for the synthesis of 4-halogeno 1-vinylnaphthalenes are proposed. Reactivity ratios are determined for the following systems: 4-fluoro-1-vinyl naphthalene-styrene, 4-chloro-1-vinyl naphthalene-styrene, and 4-bromo-1-vinyl naphthalene-styrene. The determinations are performed at various specific temperatures and the relative activation parameters are obtained. It appears that the reactivity of 1-vinyl naphthalene is drastically decreased when substituted by a halogen. In the case of 1-vinyl naphthalene the selection is enthalpically controlled.