Analysis of the Reaction in the Early Stage of the Copolymerization of Trioxane and Ethylene Oxide. 2-Formation of 1,3,5,7,10-Pentaoxacyclododecane.

Abstract

In a previous report, we noted a new direct reaction between 1 mole of trioxane and 1 mole of ethylene oxide and the formation of a novel cyclic formal of 1, 3, 5, 7-tetraoxacyclononane. We have now determined a new reaction and novel cyclic compound from the reaction of trioxane and ethylene oxide. The novel cyclic compound was separated and collected using a micro-distillation apparatus and gas chromatographic method. Its chemical structure was confirmed using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectrum and elemental analysis. The new isolated novel cyclic compound was 1, 3, 5, 7, 10-pentaoxacyclododecane, which might be formed by the direct reaction of 1 mole of trioxane and 2 moles of ethylene oxide. In the commercial base acetal copolymer, which was produced by the copolymerization of trioxane and ethylene oxide, it is known that there is a consecutive two units sequence of ethylene oxide, and this consecutive 2 ethylene oxide unit sequence might be postulated to come from the ring opening-polymerization of the novel cyclic formal of 1, 3, 5, 7, 10-pentaoxacyclododecane.