Thermal Degradation of Polymers. III. Thermal Degradation of a Compound Which Models the Head-to-Head Linkage in Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)

Abstract

As a model for a poly(methyl methacrylate ) chain which contains a head-to-head unit, the thermal degradation of tetramethyl 2,4,5,7-tetramethyloctane-2,4,5,7-tetracarboxylate has been studied. The meso compound degraded at 210º to give seven products which have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and synthesized by unambiguous routes. The products resulted from reactions which followed thermal rupture of the central C-C bond of the model compound, thus supporting the proposal that head-to-head units are important in the thermal degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate ).