Photoinduced electron-transfer reactions of poly(4-trimethylsilylmethylstyrene) in the presence of polycyanobenzenes.

The photoreactions of poly(4-trimethylsilylmethylstyrene) (2) with o-, m-, and p-dicyanobenzenes in benzene-acetonitrile (3:2) afforded insoluble polymers in high yields. On the other hand, the photoreaction of 2 with 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene gave a soluble polymer. In the latter photoreaction, the trimethylsilyl group of 2 was efficiently replaced by 2,4,5-tricyanophenyl group. The mechanistic features for the formation of insoluble polymers were also described.