Various vinylbenzaldehydes were prepared using the Heck reaction: 4-vinylbenzaldehyde (14), 3-vinylbenzaldehyde (15), 2-vinylbenzaldehyde (18a), 2-hydroxy-4-vinylbenzaldehyde (16) and 4-[(4-vinylbenzyl) oxy] benzaldehyde (6). The four monomers (6, 14, 15, 16) were polymerized using AIBN as initiator at 70° C for 24 h to yield the corresponding homopolymers (7, 19, 23, 25) and a copolymer (20) with styrene. The molecular weights ...