Cationic Polymerization of Styrene with N-Benzyl Pyridinium Salt. Isolation of Polymeric Cationic Species and Its Application to Block Copolymer Synthesis

Abstract

Abstract A polymeric cationic species (III) could be isolated in the cationic polymerization of styrene with an N-benzyl pyridinium salt (MBCP) by adding the corresponding pyridine (OCP). III is considered to be a terminated end which is active enough to initiate the cationic polymerization since it has still an N-benzyl pyridinium salt structure. Therefore, III could initiate the cationic polymerization of epoxides to give the block copolymers of styrene and epoxides.