Rigid Chain Vinyl Polymers from Multi-Substituted Ethylenes

Novel vinyl polymers were synthesized from 1,1- or 1,2-disubstituted and 1,1,2-trisubstituted ethylenes by radical polymerization. The polymers obtained consist of a rigid chain structure on account of the bulky side groups compared with flexible poly(monosubstituted ethylene)s. The substituted polymethylenes obtained from 1,2-disubstituted ethylenes such as fumaric and maleic derivatives were revealed to have new properties different from ordinary vinyl polymers. Radical polymerization behaviors of these multi-substituted ethylenes and some properties of the resulting polymers were investigated.