Bis‐[3‐(vinyloxyethoxy)‐2‐hydroxypropyl‐]polysulfides (BVPS) have been prepared by reacting ethylene glycol vinyl glycidyl ether (EGVGE) with Na2S4 in the presence of NaHCO3 and a phase transfer catalyst, triethylbenzylammonium chloride. The polysulfides obtained are inactive in radical polymerization but polymerize readily upon thermal initiation (140°C, 1 h) or in the presence of cationic catalysts [BF3·OEt2, CF3COOH, H(AuCl4)·4H2O, LiBF4‐dimethoxyethane, 20–70°C]. Polymerization leads to the formation of crosslinked polymers. It has been shown that BVPS and their polymers can be used as active binders in cathode compositions of lithium–sulfur power sources. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 4051–4055, 2006

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KO(t)Bu/DMSO-promoted C-H functionalization of acetylarenes with arylacetylenes (100 °C, 30 min), generating β,γ-ethylenic ketones, triggers upon further heating (100 °C, 4 h, with or without acidifying additive) the cascade assembly of acyl terphenyls and higher polyaromatics in good yields.

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Unique bridgehead nitrones, 8-oxa-6-aza­bi­cyclo­[3.2.1]­oct-6-ene 6-oxides, have been assembled diastereoselectively via acetyldihydropyrans, products of one-pot self-organization of two molecules of ketones and two molecules of acetylene, which after oximation undergo acid-catalyzed ring closure. The proposed mechanism includes the enol double-bond protonation, followed by intramolecular cyclization involving the interaction of the carbocation formed with a nitrogen atom. A broad range of substrates tolerate this facile transformation, in which the bridgehead nitrones were isolated in high yields.