Spatial distribution of pendent vinyl groups during chloromethylation of macroporous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers

During chloromethylation of macroporous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers, postreticulation of unreacted vinyl groups takes place as side reaction. Local molecular analysis by Roman microspectrometry showed that the distribution of pendent vinyl groups inside the copolymers heads after chloromethylation was heterogeneous. The relationship between the distribution of chlorine-containing groups and vinyl groups was studied, and their inhomogeneous distribution explained by the textural heterogeneity of the heads and by postreticulation affecting the centre more than the periphery of the heads.