POLYMERIZATION OF AROMATIC ALDEHYDES-- 4

Copolymerizations of three phthalaldehyde (PHA) isomers (M//2) with styrene (M//1) were carried out in methylene chloride or in toluene with BF//3OEt//2 catalyst. The monomer reactivity ratios were r//1 equals 0. 77, r//2 equals 0 for the meta isomer and r//1 equals 0. 60, r//2 equals 0 for the para isomer. The second aldehyde group of both isomers did not participate inpolymerization and acted simply as the electron-withdrawing group, thus reducing the cationic reactivity of these monomers. CopolyERIZATION BEHAVIORS OF THE ORTHO ISOMER (o-PhA) were quite different between 0 and - 78 C.