Copolymerization of 2-substituted 2-oxazolines with some electron acceptors

Spontaneous copolymerizations of 2-substituted 2-oxazolines having donor or acceptor pendant groups, i.e. 2-(β-N-carbazolylethyl)-2-oxazoline, 2-(9-anthrylethyl)-2-oxazoline and 2-(3,5-dinitrophenyl)-2-oxazoline, with 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane and tetracyanoethylene have been studied. Initiation takes place through a charge transfer complex intermediate formed between n-type donor oxazoline ring and the π acceptor. A charge transfer complex is formed also between donor pendant groups (anthryl or carbazolyl) and acceptor (π-π type complex) which can be preserved in the copolymer. This method allows the direct obtaining of intramolecular and intermolecular charge transfer complexes by spontaneous copolymerization of donor/acceptor monomer pairs.