Polymerization of vinylene carbonate as well as aminolysis and hydrolysis of poly(vinylene carbonate)

Poly(vinylene carbonate) was prepared via both bulk and solution polymerization. The products of bulk polymerization were mainly crosslinked, which was due to transfer reactions between the chain radicals and macromolecules. In solution polymerization, only soluble and low-molecular-weight polymers could be obtained because of chain transfer reactions with the solvents, and the transfer constant of N,N-dimethylformamide in the polymerization of vinylene carbonate at 60°C, CS=0.0228, was determined. Additionally, aminolysis and hydrolysis of poly(vinylene carbonate) and its model compound – ethylene carbonate were studied, respectively.