2-(Multimethoxy)phenyl-4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane (Ⅰ): Preparation and Cationic Polymerization of 2-(Dimethoxy)phenyl-4-MDO Derivatives

The 4-methylene-1,3-dioxolane(4-MDO) derivatives with dimethoxyphenyl group on the 2-position of 1,3-dioxolane ring, 2-(x,y-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-MDO derivatives (x,y=2,3(1b), 2,4(2b), 2,5(3b) and 3,4(4b)) were prepared by acelalizationof the corresponding benzaldehyde with 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol, followed by dehydrochlorination. 2-(Dimethoxy)phenyl-4-MDO derivatives underwent polymerization wiht ring opening as will as cyclization reaction to afford a mixture of the ring-opened polymer and 3(2H)-dihydrofuranone derivative with boron trifluoride as a cationic catalyst. Both the methylene group and 1,3-dioxolane ring were participated in the reaction with cationic catalyst. The key intermediate of the polymerization is a benzyl cation generated by ring opening, and the cyclization reaction proceed via proton addition to oxygen atom of 1,3-dioxolane ring.