Abstract: An oligomerized cyclobutarene containing 80 weight percent or more of oligomers of a degree of polymerization of three or more.

Abstract: A method for determining the configuration of a resin portion of an article comprising exposing the article to a light source at a first wavelength and measuring emission of light at a second, different wavelength; wherein the resin contains a moiety containing a structure of the formula: ##STR1## or a moiety which is a reaction product of said moiety in a quantity sufficient to impart fluorescent properties to said resin.

Abstract: The invention is a process for making high molecular weight polymers of monoalkenyl arene monomers comprising:1) copolymerizing vinylbenzocyclobutene with the monoalkenyl arene monomer through the vinyl moiety;2) submitting the thus formed copolymer to conditions sufficient to open the side rings of the benzocyclobutene moieties;wherein the amount of vinylbenzocyclobutene in the copolymer is such that the polymer formed by step 2) does not reach a gel point. Such copolymers allow the building of molecular weight after the initial polymerization.

Abstract: A process for preparing a substituted or unsubstituted 3- or 4-hydroxyalkylbenzocyclobutene compound comprises reducing a corresponding 3- or 4-formyl or ketobenzocyclobutene compound with a hydride at a temperature below that at which dimerization or oligomerization of the formyl- or ketobenzocycloutene compound or the thus-produced hydroxyalkylbenzocyclobutene compound is a significant side reaction, for a time sufficient to convert the formyl- or ketobenzocyclobutene compound to the hydroxyalkylbenzocyclobutene compound. In a two-step process, formylbenzocyclobutenes are prepared from bromobenzocyclobutenes in 90% yield or from benzocyclobutenes in a 70% yield, and then converted to hydroxymethylbenzocyclobutenes for an overall yield of about 85% from a bromobenzocyclobutene or of about 65% from a benzocyclobutene.

Abstract: The invention is a poly(arylcyclobutene) comprising arylcyclobutene moieties connected by a bridging member, wherein the bridging member is (a) a direct bond, (b) a polyvalent inorganic radical or (c) a polyvalent organic radical which contains (1) one or more heteroatoms comprising oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or phosphorus or (2) one or more aromatic radicals, and wherein one or more cyclobutene rings are fused to one of the aryl rings.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 3- or 4-aminobenzocyclobutene comprises aminating a 3- or 4-halo- or sulfonyloxybenzocyclobutene reactant with an aminating agent by heating at a temperature from about 80.degree. C. to a temperature at which dimerization or oligomerization of a benzocyclobutene reactant or product is a significant side reaction, in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, for a time sufficient to aminate the halo- or sulfonyloxybenzocyclobutene reactant. In another aspect, this invention relates to a process for making a 3- or 4-phthalimido- or maleimidobenzocyclobutene, comprising reacting a 3- or 4-halobenzocyclobutene reactant with a phthalimide or maleimide compound in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst. The resulting phthalimido- or maleimidobenzocyclobutene can be hydrolyzed to a 3- or 4-aminobenzocyclobutene.

Abstract: A process for preparing carboxylic acid esters of of the formulaX--(COOCH.sub.2 A).sub.nwherein A is the residue of a substituted or unsubstituted 3- or 4-benzocyclobutene compound, X is an n-valent organic bridging group, and n is 2,3, or 4, comprises reacting a substituted or unsubstituted 3- or 4-hydroxymethylbenzocyclobutene compound with a compound of the formula X--(COY).sub.n, wherein X is an n-valent organic bridging group and Y is Cl or Br. Esters of inorganic acids of the formulaX'(OCH.sub.2 A).sub.nwherein X' is a residue of an inorganic acid halide, n is 2 or 3, and A is the residue of a substituted or unsubstituted 3- or 4-benzocyclobutene compound, are prepared by reacting an inorganic halide of the formula X'Y.sub.n, wherein Y is Br or Cl, with a substituted or unsubstituted 3- or 4-hydroxymethylbenzocyclobutene compound. Biscarbonates of the formula X"[OC(.dbd.O)CH.sub.2 A].sub.

Abstract: A process for preparing a vinylically-unsaturated product compound comprises reacting a halogenated organic compound with a hydrolytically-stable, vinylically-unsaturated precursor compound in the presence of (a) a homogeneous zerovalent palladium catalyst complex, (b) an organic hydrogen halide acceptor and (c) a diluent, wherein the diluent is water or an aqueous solution containing up to 95% by volume of an organic solvent. The halogenated organic compound is selected from aryl halides, benzyl halides or vinylic halides. The hydrolytically-stable, vinylically-unsaturated precursor compound is selected from organosilicon compounds, hydrocarbon compounds or compounds containing at least one of an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, a phosphorus atom or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Copolymers of a mono(cyclobutarene) comonomer and a polymaleimide comonomer are described. These copolymers have higher thermal stability and lower water absorption than polymaleimide homopolymers. They are useful in applications such as electronics, membranes, composities, coatings, and adhesives. Examples of such copolymers are those formed from the comonomers 1,1'-(methylenedi-4,1-phenylene)bismaleimide, and 3-(1-(4-methylphenyl)ethenyl)-bicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1,3,5-triene or 3-(2-(4-methylphenyl)ethenyl)-bicyclo(4.2.0)octa-1,3,5-triene.

Abstract: A process for preparing a vinylically-unsaturated product compound comprises reacting a halogenated organic compound with a hydrolytically-stable, vinylically-unsaturated precursor compound in the presence of (a) a homogeneous zerovalent palladium catalyst complex, (b) an inorganic hydrogen halide acceptor and (c) a diluent, wherein the diluent is water or an aqueous solution containing up to 95% by volume of an organic solvent. The halogenated organic compound is selected from aryl halides, benzyl halides or vinylic halides. The hydrolytically-stable, vinylically-unsaturated precursor compound is selected from hydrocarbon compounds or compounds containing at least one of an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, a phosphorus atom or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 3- or 4-hydroxybenzocyclobutene comprises reacting a 3- or 4-halogenzocyclobutene reactant with an alkali metal hydroxide by heating in an aqueous alcohol medium at a temperature from about 50.degree. C. to a temperature at which dimerization or oligomerization of a benzocyclobutene reactant or product is a significant side reaction, in the presence of a metal-containing catalyst, for a time sufficient to convert the halobenzocyclobutene reactant to the hydroxybenzocyclobutene product.

Abstract: An improved process for the nitration of a substituted or unsubstituted benzocyclobutene compound in a reaction mixture comprising a nitrating agent, an unhalogenated carboxylic acid anhydride, clay and a solvent to produce a corresponding nitrobenzocyclobutene compound, is that wherein:(a) the solvent has a density above that of the nitrating agent or an extractable precursor thereof;(b) the reaction mixture is heated at a temperature such that solvent is removed from the reaction mixture to a site outside the reaction mixture to extract nitrating agent or extractable precursor thereof; and(c) the thus-extracted nitrating agent or precursor thereof is fed into the reaction mixture to nitrate the benzocyclobutene compound.

Abstract: The invention is a composition containing a polymer formed by side ring opening of an arylcyclobutene compound and an effective amount of an antioxidant.

Abstract: A process for purifying an impure vinylically-unsaturated organosilicon product compound prepared by reaction between a vinylically-unsaturated organosilicon precursor and a halogenated organic compound in the presence of a homogeneous zerovalent palladium catalyst complex, the catalyst complex including an organophosphine or organoarsine ligand, in the presence of a hydrogen halide acceptor in an essentially anhydrous diluent, comprising treating a mixture containing the impure vinylically-unsaturated organosilicon product compound with a peroxide for a time sufficient to oxidize organophosphine or organoarsine impurities present in a mixture being treated. The peroxide can be selected from aqueous hydrogen peroxide or organic peroxides. The thus-treated mixture can be further treated by chromatography over silica gel or alumina. In optional embodiments, chromatography over silica gel or alumina can precede treatment with the peroxide.

Abstract: A process for preparing a vinylically-unsaturated product compound comprises reacting a halogenated organic compound with a hydrolytically-stable, vinylically-unsaturated precursor compound in the presence of (a) a homogeneous zerovalent palladium catalyst complex, (b) an inorganic hydrogen halide acceptor and (c) diluent, wherein the diluent is water or an aqueous solution containing up to 95% by volume of an organic solvent. The halogenated organic compound is selected from aryl halides, benzyl halides or vinylic halides. The hydrolytically-stable, vinylically-unsaturated precursor compound is selected from hydrocarbon compounds or compounds containing at least one of an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom, a phosphorus atom, silicon atom or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Hydroxy arylcyclobutenes are prepared by the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of arylcyclobutene aldehydes with permonophosphoric acid.

Abstract: 3-chloromethylbenzocyclobutene is prepared by reacting benzocyclobutene with chloromethyl methyl ether in the presence of stannic chloride at a temperature of about -120.degree. C. to about -40.degree. C. and neutralizing the resulting reaction mixture comprising 3-chloromethylbenzocyclobutene at a temperature of about -80.degree. C. to about -70.degree. C.

Abstract: Cyclobutarenes are prepared by pyrolyzing a suitable benzene, naphthalene, or pyridine derivative in the presence of an amount of steam effective to substantially reduce the partial pressure of the pyrolyzing compound.

Abstract: A biscyclobutarene monomer is prepared comprising two cyclobutarene moieties bridged by a divalent radical having at least one benzoxazole, benzothiazole or benzimidazole linkage. A reactive biscyclobutarene oligomer is also prepared by reacting a cyclobutarene-carboxylic acid, a diaminodihydroxyarene, diaminodithiolarene or tetraaminoarene and either an aromatic diacid or an aromatic diacid chloride. the monomers and reactive oligomers can be polymerized to form polymers exhibiting outstanding thermooxidative stability at high temperatures for prolonged time periods.

Abstract: Multifunctional cyclobutarene peroxide polymerization initiators comprising at least one cyclobutarene moiety linked through the aromatic ring to at least one peroxide containing group which catalyze free radical polymerizations, as well as participate in cyclobutarene initiated ring opening polymerizations. The cyclobutarene peroxides of this invention are useful for the production of cross-linked, branched and graft polymeric compositions.