A new chloromethylation method based on polystyrene–divinylbenzene

Abstract

The chloromethylated polystyrene–divinylbenzene (Cl-PS–DVB) was obtained via the chloromethylation of high cross-linked polystyrene–divinylbenzene (PS–DVB). Methylal, trioxymethylene and thionyl chloride were applied as reactants. The obtained Cl-PS–DVB (chloromethylated polystyrene–divinylbenzene) was characterized by the BET and FT-IR. Also, the catalyst, reaction time and reaction temperature were optimized. The chlorine content of the obtained Cl-PS–DVB reached 19% under the catalysis of FeCl3 at 45 °C. The chloromethylation method was thought to be environmental friendly because low toxic reactant (methylal, trioxymethylene and thionyl chloride) were applied in the in situ chloromethylation of PS–DVB in this process instead of using hypertoxic chloromethyl ether (BCME) directly. Also, the low production cost of this reaction gives it a bright prospect in industrial application.