Abstract
2,4-Di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzylidenemalononitrile (2a), methyl 2,4-di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzylidenecyanoacetate (2b), 3,4-di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzylidenemalononitrile (4a), and methyl 3,4-di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzylidenecyanoacetate (4b), 2,5-di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzylidenemalononitrile (6a), and methyl 2,5-di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzylidenecyanoacetate (6b) were prepared by the condensation of 2,4-di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzaldehyde (1), 3,4-di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzaldehyde (3), and 2,5-di-(2-vinyloxyethoxy)benzaldehyde (5) with malononitrile or methyl cyanoacetate, respectively. Trifunctional divinyl ether monomers 2, 4 and 6 were polymerized readily by free radical initiators to give optically transparent swelling poly(vinyl ethers) 7-9. Polymers 7-9 were not soluble in common organic solvents such as acetone and DMSO due to crosslinking. Polymer 7-9 showed a thermal stability up to 300 ℃ in TGA thennograms.