Preparation of crosslinked polymers using acenaphthylene and the chemical modification of these polymers

Acenaphthylene was homopolymerized, was copolymerized with divinylbenzene, and was copolymerized with both styrene and divinylbenzene using free radical initiated suspension polymerizations. The acenaphthyl residues in these polymers were more reactive to electrophiles than the phenyl residues in polystyrenes. Thus, bromo, chloro, and iodo groups were introduced using reaction conditions under which polystyrenes did not react. Other groups introduced were sulphonic acid, nitro, 2-chlorobenzoyl, carboxylic acid via cleavage of 2-chlorobenzoyl or via direct metalation then reaction with carbon dioxide, chloromethyl, and formyl.