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Eight dicoumarins (3,4) were successfully synthesized from 7-hydroxycoumarin (or 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin) and various dibromoalkanes. Photopolymerization of the dicoumarins under 350nm light gives various corresponding polyethers 5,6. The structures of the coumarin dimer component depend on the length of flexible methylene chain, substituted groups on double bonds, polarity of solvent, and sensitizer used. The structures were characterized by NMR spectra. Dicoumarins (3) without 4-methyl substituent photopolymerize to give head-to-head products in dichloromethane. However, dicoumarins (4) with methyl substituent give head-to-tail products. Photopolymerization kinetics of 3c was also investigated. The reaction obey zeroth- order and first-order kinetics for dicoumarin and benzophenone, respectively. Finally, the polymers were photocleavaged symmetrically by 254nm UV light and then repolymerized by 350nm UV light in order to study their reversible properties.
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