Functionalised linear and cross-linked polystyrenes from chloromethylated polymers through their organolithium derivatives

The lithiation of soluble (linear) and insoluble (cross-linked) chloromethylated polystyrene ( and , respectively) with lithium and a catalytic amount of 4,4′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl (DTBB, 10 mol%) followed by reaction with different electrophiles leads to the formation, after final hydrolysis, of the corresponding functionalised polymers and , respectively.