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Isotactic poly(1‐hexene sulfone)s by stereoselective anionic ring‐opening polymerisation
Author(s) -
Callan John F,
Fawcett Allan H
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2330
Subject(s) - tacticity , sulfone , polymer chemistry , 1 hexene , stereospecificity , polymerization , monomer , olefin fiber , materials science , ring opening polymerization , ring (chemistry) , chemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , polymer , copolymer , composite material
Background: Poly(olefin sulfone)s have been shown to form helical regions and to display main‐chain liquid‐crystalline behaviour in the bulk when they possess long side‐chains. It is believed that increasing the tacticity of the backbone could enhance their liquid‐crystalline behaviour. This study aims to produce tactic poly(olefin sulfone)s by stereospecific ring‐opening polymerisation. Results: T actic polythiranes were successfully obtained from a racemic mixture of thirane monomers using a series of chiral catalyst systems. The isotactic placement ( P i ) was determined using 13 C NMR analysis of carbons in or near the backbone. The polysulfides were oxidised by peracetic acid to their corresponding polysulfones. Powder X‐ray diffraction studies showed that the isotactic polysulfones formed more ordered structures than their atactic analogues, an effect attributed to a tightening of the helical pitch. Conclusions: Tactic poly(1‐hexene sulfone)s have been prepared for the first time by stereoselective ring‐opening polymerisation. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry