Thermal and radical polymerization of anthracene acrylates and methacrylates^†

The thermal and radical-induced polymerizations of 9-anthrylmethyl acrylate (I), 9-anthrylmethyl methacrylate (II), 1′-(9-anthryl)ethyl acrylate (III), and 1′-(9-anthryl)ethyl methacrylate (IV) have been studied. It was found that the radical-induced polymerization takes place for the methacrylates only, while thermal polymerization leads to polymers for both types of monomers and takes place by Diels–Alder cycloaddition in the case of acrylates, and by both normal enchainment and Diels–Alder cycloaddition in the case of methacrylates.