Vibrational spectroscopic study on the photo-induced solid-state reactions of a series of muconate diesters with various side groups

In order to clarify the photo-induced solid-state reactions of a series of dialkyl Z,Z-muconates, the time-resolved FT–IR measurements were performed. From the observations of the IR spectral changes in these reactions, the following three types of reactions were found: (1) the polymerization reaction to give the stereoregular polymer; (2) the isomerization reaction from Z,Z to E,E-form followed by the polymerization; and (3) the polymerization to give the amorphous polymer. By the quantitative analysis of the FT–IR data, the reaction rates were evaluated for these three types of reaction. The reactivity was compared among the various kinds of muconate diesters on the basis of the packing mode of the monomers in the crystal lattice.