Living Polystyrene Anions Terminated with Difulvene

Abstract

<p> This project proposal is focused on the development of a novel class of Viscosity Index improvers. A bench-top method for living anionic polymerization has been set up and tested in many aspects. A new difulvene derivative, 1,4-di(6'-6'-methyl-fulvyl)benzene, was synthesized. The living anionic polymer chain was terminated on this difulvene. Cyclopentadiene groups were formed in the middle of the macromolecule chain during the termination. A doubled molecular weight of polystyrene was obtained after the termination. The cyclopentadienes were then changed to other functional groups by Diels-Alder reaction with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, ozonolysis of double bonds, and bromination and reaction with amine. The infrared spectra and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the resulting polymers showed new peaks for the new attached groups.</p>