| Abstract: | 2-(2-Butenyl)-6-methylphenol ( 1a ) and 2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-6-methylphenol ( 1b ) were oxidatively polymerized in the presence of a copper-pyridine catalyst to yield poly[oxy-2-(2-butenyl)-6-methyl-1, 4-phenylene] ( 2a ) and poly[oxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-6-methyl-1,4-phenylene] ( 2b ) with molecular weights >104. The polymerization rates were in the order 1b > 1a > 1a > 2,6-dimethylphenol ( 3 ), and this order agreed with those of the rate constant of the electron-transfer step and of the redox potential. The 2-butenyl and 3-methyl-2-butenyl group in 2 showed enough chemical reactivity for addition of bromine and epoxidation. |
