Polymerization of formaldehyde in the presence of organotin compounds

Abstract

Kinetics of formaldehyde polymerization proceeding in a throughflow reactor in toluene solution containing asymmetric organotin (IV) compounds was investigated. The polymer concentration remains constant when the catalyst concentration is varied from 1 × 10 −6 to 1 × 10 −2 mole/l., and depends only slightly on the concentration of water. A mechanism of the process is proposed, which involves initiation by an impurity present in formaldehyde, activated by the organotin compound, and a catalysed chain transfer reaction by water molecules.