On the interaction of triphenylmethyl salts with α‐methylstyrene

Abstract

AbstractThe interaction of triphenylmethyl salts with α‐methylstyrene and 1,1‐diphenylethylene was investigated. With 1,1‐diphenylethylene at a monomer‐initiator ratio of 2 (room temperature), mainly 1,1,3‐triphenyl‐3‐methyl‐indane was isolated, whereas at a ratio of 100 (−10°C), the dimer 1,1,3,3‐tetraphenylbutene‐1 mainly formed. In both cases no addition of the trityl group was registered. In the interaction of α‐methylstyrene with Ph3C+SbCl at a monomer‐initiator ratio of 2(room temperature) a pure 1,3,3‐trimethyl‐1‐phenylindane was isolated and no addition of the trityl group to the double bond was recorded. The initiation reaction of α‐methylstyrene polymerization by trityl and chlorinated trityl salts was studied at temperatures from −20 to 0°C and different concentrations. The oligomers obtained with (pCI‐C6H4)3C+ were investigated by elemental analysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The presence of Ph3CH in the reaction mixture was demonstrated by GLC and NMR spectra. The results obtained give evidence that the initiation of α‐methylstyrene polymerization involves hydride abstraction from the monomer.