| abstract |
Process for the preparation of an aromatic hydrocarbon with a cyclobutene ring fused to the aromatic hydrocarbon which comprises, dissolving an ortho-alkyl halomethyl aromatic hydrocarbon in an inert solvent and pyrolyzing the solution of ortho-alkyl halomethyl aromatic hydrocarbon in the inert solvent under conditions such that the ortho-alkyl and the halomethyl substituents form a cyclobutene ring thereby forming an aromatic hydrocarbon having a fused cyclobutene ring. The ortho-alkyl group has the structural formula (R')2-CH-, wherein R' is separately in each occurance hydrogen or a C1-20 alkyl. The aromatic hydrocarbons with a cyclobutene ring fused to the aromatic hydrocarbon are useful in the preparation of monomers, which are then useful in the preparation of high performance polymers. |