Polymerization of arylcycloalkenes initiated by tungsten hexachloride-tetraphenyltin

The work reported in this thesis is concerned with an investigation of the ring-opening polymerization of arylcycloalkenes. The monomers investigated were indene, acenaphthylene and benzonorbornadiene and the catalyst system used was tungsten hexachloride/tetraphenyltin in toluene. Attempts to ring-open polymerize indene and acenaphthylene are described in Chapter 2. The results suggest that these monomers do not undergo ring-opening polymerization to any appreciable extent with the catalyst system used; however, some ambiguity remains and it may be that a limited amount of ring-opening does occur. Benzonorbornadiene readily undergoes ring-opening polymerization. Synthesis' of the monomer, its polymerization and the characterization of the polymer are described in Chapter 3. Polybenzonorbornadiene is very susceptible to oxidation by atmospheric oxidation.