Reactivity of Disubstituted Benzocyclobutenes. Model Compounds of Cross-Linkable High-Performance Polymers

We have previously reported on the synthesis of a new 2, 5-disubstituted benzocyclobutene monomer which is capable of undergoing thermally activated cross-linking. This monomer, a derivative of terephthalic acid, can be incorporated into the backbone of many high-performance polymers, processed into films or fibers, and then cross-linked to yield networks. To determine the operating window for polymerization and processing, we report here a study on small-molecule compounds derived from this monomer, many of which have well-known polymeric counterparts.