The cationic polymerization of 2-alkenylfurans, 2. A side reaction leading to polyunsaturated products

A spectroscopic and conductimetric study of the cationic polymerization of 2-vinylfuran (1) and 2-methyl-5-venylfuran (2) showed the existence of an important side reaction originating from a hydride-ion shift from an unsaturated polymer molecule to an active species. The resulting allylic carbocation, in equilibrium with a doubly unsaturated polymer molecule, can react further and the repetition of the mechanism on progressively more conjugated species leads to the formation of a series of highly charge-delocalized carbenium ions absorbing throughout the visible region of the spectrum (and giving high electrical conductivity) and of neutral polyconjugated polymer molecules. Since the hydride-ion abstraction occurs from the tertiary carbon atom of the vinylic chain, vinylidene polymers of monomers such as 2-isopropenylfuran (3) and 2-isopropenyl-5-methylfuran (4) are not susceptible to it. Indeed, their cationic polymerization proceeds without colour formation and conductivity increase.