The synthesis of poly(3,4‐dihydroxystyrene) and poly[(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate)‐co‐(3,4‐dihydroxystyrene)]

Poly(2‐methoxy‐4‐vinylphenol), polyMVP, and poly[(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate)‐co‐(2‐methoxy‐4‐vinylphenol)], poly(SSS/MVP), were synthesized by radical polymerization using Vazo‐64 or tributylborane as initiator. Poly(3,4‐dihydroxystyrene) and poly[(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate)‐co‐(3,4‐dihydroxystyrene)] were obtained by demethylation of polyMVP and poly(SSS/MVP) using HBr and trimethylsilyl iodide, respectively. (Co)polymer structures were confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectra. About 30 wt.‐% gel formed in the polyMVP polymerizations, whereas only a small amount (0.5 mol‐%) of gel formed in the copolymerizations.