Reactions and polymerization of 1-trityl-4-vinylimidazole

Abstract

1-Trityl-4-vinylimidazole was prepared by direct tritylation of 4(5)-vinylimidazole and polymerized using a free radical initiator. Poly(1-trityl-4-vinylimidazole) was hydrolyzed using aqueous acetic acid to give poly[4(5)-vinylimidazole]. The poly[4(5)-vinylimidazole], which was obtained from the hydrolysis of poly(1-trityl-4-vinylimidazole), was compared with poly[4(5)-vinylimidazole] prepared directly from 4(5)-vinylimidazole for differences in stereochemistry. The stereochemistry of both polymers was found to be similar by high-resolution NMR. Thus, the trityl does not influence the stereochemistry of poly[4(5)-vinylimidazole]. The reaction of 1-trityl-4-vinylimidazole with n -butyllithium gave 2-lithio-1-trityl-4-vinylimidazole. This intermediate was used to prepare 2-substituted 4(5)-vinylimidazoles, which are new monomers that can be polymerized using free radical initiators.