Cyclopolimerization and Regioselective Synthesis of Vinyl Itaconates

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00366a023

A selective synthesis for both 1- and 4-alkyl vinyl itaconate regioisomers is presented.Polymerization experiments with these two monomers reveal that only 4-vinyl itaconic acid (3a) and 1-alkyl 4-vinyl itaconates (e.g.,8) lead to cyclopolymers.A synthesis of the γ-lactone repeating unit found in the cyclopolimer confirms the structure and stereochemistry of the polymer.