5-Vinylthiolan-2-one was synthesized and its homo-polymerization and copolymerization with common radically active monomers were investigated.
Homopolymerization was carried out by 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile(AIBN), benzoyl peroxide(BPO), di-tert-butyl peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (DTBP) as initiators. However, all the attempts except the case of DTBP failed to any give significant polymerization products.
The structure determined by H-NMR and IR spectra of the polymer from the polymerization by DTBP as an initiator indicated that all of the monomer molecules underwent polymerization without ring-opening.
Copolymerization was carried out with ethyl acrylate and with vinyl acetate by BPO as an initiator. However, all the attempts have failed to give any polymerization product.