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Cationic polymerization of aliphatic cyclocarbonates
Author(s) -
Kricheldorf Hans R.,
WeegenSchulz Bettina,
Jenssen Jörg
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.19981320139
Subject(s) - cationic polymerization , polymer chemistry , ether , polymerization , chemistry , living cationic polymerization , trifluoromethanesulfonate , lewis acids and bases , carbonate , vinyl ether , molar mass distribution , trimethylene carbonate , ring opening polymerization , polymer , organic chemistry , monomer , catalysis
Abstract Numerous polymerizations of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) and neo‐pentylene carbonate (NPC) were conducted in solution using methyl triflate as initiator. The polymerization mechanism was elucidated and rapid backbiting degradation along with the formation of ether groups was detected. When strong Lewis acids such as BF 3 , SnCl 4 or SnBn 4 were used as initiators, much higher molecular weights were obtained, but the resulting polycarbonates still contained ether groups. BuSnCl 3 was found to be the most useful initiator yielding high molecular weight polycarbonates free of ether groups. However, in this case it is not clear, if a cationic mechanism or a coordination‐insertion mechanism is involved.