Poly(arylcyclobutenes)

A poly(arylcyclobutene) which corresponds to the formula ##STR68## wherein B is a single direct bond between the Ar moieties or a sole bridging member between the Ar moieties which contains (1) a polyvalent inorganic radical, or (2) a polyvalent organic radical containing (a) one or more heteroatoms comprising oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, silicon, or phosphorus, or (b) one or more aromatic radicals;

• with the proviso that B is not ##STR69## wherein X is a hydrocarbon poly-yl radical or a hydrocarbon poly-yl radical which contains a heteroatom;
• R is separately in each occurrence hydrogen, an electron-withdrawing substituent or an electron-donating substituent;
• Ar is an aromatic radical or an aromatic radical substituted with an electron-withdrawing substituent or electron-donating substituent provided that (1) where B is a polyvalent inorganic radical or a polyvalent organic radical, B is bonded to each Ar by a single bond and (2) the carbons of the cyclobutene ring ##STR70## are bonded to adjacent carbon atoms on the same aromatic ring or Ar;
• m is an integer of 1 or greater;
• and
• n is an integer of 2 or greater;
• provided that B can be a direct bond only when n is equal to 2 and further provided that the poly(arylcyclobutene) be polymerizable through opening of the cyclobutene rings.