The photoinitiated cyclopolymerization of dienes in the creation of novel polymeric systems and three-dimensional networks†
Abstract
In this article we describe the photo-initiated cyclopolymerization of 5-, 6- and 7-centre dienes. We find that substituted dienes can be cyclopolymerized in sunlight or by the use of a low-power UVA sunlamp of broad spectral range (320–400 nm). Unless activated by suitable electron withdrawing groups the cyclopolymerization can often be slow and incomplete. However, when suitably activated the polymerization rates can approach those for acrylates. In particular