N-Cyclohexylmaleimide

N-Cyclohexylmaleimide (CHMI, NCMI) is a cyclic imide. Diels-Alder reactions of 9-hydroxymethylanthracene with CHMI catalyzed by hydrophobic nanospace confined within the self-assembled Pd₆ open cage bearing triimidazole walls have been reported. It undergoes Diels-Alder reactions with various aromatic hydrocarbons promoted by self-assembled coordination cage. This cage acts as nanometer-sized molecular flask and hence promotes this reaction. CHMI is reported to undergo radical polymerization readily under various polymerization conditions to afford poly(CHMI), having excellent thermal stability.

N-Cyclohexylmaleimide (CHMI, NCMI) may be used for the preparation of hyperbranched copolymers of p-(chloromethyl)styrene (CMS) and NCMI, via atom transfer radical copolymerization reaction.

N-Cyclohexylmaleimide contaminated with N-cyclohexylmaleamic acid (less than 0.9 wt%) may be used for the heat-resistant poly(methyl methacrylate) resin free from coloration and for methyl methacrylate homopolymer. It may be used as monomer in the preparation of styrene/N-cyclohexylmaleimide copolymers with small polydispersities and controlled molecular weights, via free radical copolymerization. It may be used in the synthesis of hyperbranched copolymers by the atom transfer radical copolymerization with p-(chloromethyl)styrene catalyzed by CuCl/2,2′-bipyridine in cyclohexanone or anisole.