The chemistry of xylylenes. X. Some polymers and telomers of spiro‐di‐o‐xylylene

Abstract Spiro‐di‐o‐xylylene polymerizes via a free‐radical mechanism to give high molecular weight poly(o‐xylylene). It reacts with olefinic molecules, such as styrene, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, vinylidine fluoride, and butadiene to give copolymers containing di‐o‐xylylene units in its backbone. Solutions of spiro‐di‐o‐xylylene can be titrated with iodine, and di‐o‐xylylene‐di‐iodide is produced stoichiometrically. Telomers of di‐o‐xylylene are obtained when the spiro compound is allowed to react in the presence of chain transfer agents such as HSR and CBr4.