Cyclic macromolecules. Synthesis and characterization of ring-shaped polystyrenes

Abstract

A method has been developed to synthesize cyclic polystyrene molecules, by reacting bifunctional “living” polystyrene with α,α′ dibromo- p-xylene. The ability of the method to yield cyclic polymers over a molecular weight range from 7000 to 250,000 has been thoroughly investigated and discussed. Characterization of the cyclic macromolecules with respect to linear homologues of the same molecular weight has been performed by means of viscometry. The effect of cyclization tends to decrease as the molecular weight increases.