2-(multimethoxyphenyl)-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane: (III) Polymerization of 2-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane with various cationic catalysts

The 2-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-MDO (2) underwent polymerization with ring opening as well as cyclization reaction in the presence of various cationic catalysts such as boron trifluoride, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, hydrochloric acid and trifluoroacetic acid. They afforded a mixture of the ring-opened poly(keto ether) and 3(2H)-dihydrofuranone derivative. Both the methylene group and oxygen atom of 1,3-dioxolane ring were participated in the reaction with cationic catalyst. The content of the polymer and cyclization product were variable according to the acid strength of the cationic catalysts.