Vinylhydroquinone. V. Tri‐n‐butylborane‐initiated copolymerization of maleic anhydride and redox property of copolymers

Abstract Tri‐n‐butylborane (TBB) was found to be capable of initiating the copolymerization of vinylhydroquinone (VHQ) with maleic anhydride (MAn) and diethyl fumarate (DEF) in cyclohexanone at 30°C under nitrogen. Redox potentials of the VHQ–MAn copolymer obtained were examined. These results, along with spectroscopic data, indicate that the copolymers are of a highly alternating character.