Applications of 1,1-diphenylethylene chemistry in anionic synthesis of polymers with controlled structures

Abstract

The use of 1,1-diphenylethylenes in anionic polymerization is reviewed. The structure and reactivity of 1,1-diphenylethylenes and the corresponding simple and polymeric 1,1-diphenylalkyllithiums are described. The applications of 1,1-diphenylethylene chemistry include: 1. Their use to form initiators 2. End-capping agents to attenuate reactivity for crossover to reactive, polar monomers or for functionalization reactions 3. For chain-end and in-chain functionalization using substituted 1,1-diphenylethylenes and 1,1-diarylethylenes 4. The preparation and applications of non-homopolymerizable 1,1-diphenylethylene-functionalized macromonomers 5. The use of bis(1,1-diphenylethylenes) and tris(1,1-diphenylethylenes) as precursors for hydrocarbon-soluble dilithium and trilithium initiators, respectively 6. The use of bis(1,1-diphenylethylenes) and tris(1,1-diphenylethylenes) as living linking agents to prepare heteroarm (miktoarm) star-branched polymers.