Polymers incorporating backbone thiophene, furan, and alcohol functionalities formed through chemical modifications of alternating olefin–carbon monoxide copolymers

The reaction of the alternating ethylene–carbon monoxide copolymer with Lawesson's reagent resulted in the conversion of 75% of the carbonyl groups to thiophene units. A few thioketone groups were also present in the derived polymer. A polymer with furan units in the backbone was formed upon treatment of the alternating propylene–carbon monoxide copolymer with P₂O₅. Depending on the reaction conditions, up to 90% of the carbonyl groups were converted. Finally, 1,4-polyalcohols were prepared from the alternating propylene-carbon monoxide copolymer by reduction. Hydrogenation using Raney nickel as catalyst resulted in the reduction of 60% of the carbonyl groups, whereas reaction with LiAlH₄ at room temperature caused the reduction of 85% of the carbonyl groups. The glass transition temperature was found to increase monotonically with increasing concentration of hydroxyl groups in the polymer backbone. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.