Abstract
AbstractThe synthesis and potential applications of functional, branched polyethers prepared by cationic ring-opening polymerization is reviewed, mainly on the base of the work from the author’s laboratory. Polymerization of cyclic monomers of ABx type, including highly strained 3- and 4-membered as well as weakly strained 5-membered cyclic ethers substituted with hydroxyl groups is discussed. Cationic polymerization of such monomers proceeds with participation of activated monomer mechanism which leads to the formation of branches. Hydroxy-substituted 4-membered cyclic ethers are highly strained; thus there are no thermodynamic restrictions for their polymerization, but these monomers are not easily available. Thus the possibility of using easily accessible 5-membered hydroxy-substituted cyclic ethers as monomers for cationic ring-opening polymerization was explored in spite of expected thermodynamic limitations due to low ring strain of those monomers. It was found that 5-membered hydroxysubstituted cyclic ethers undergo polymerization; however only low molecular weight products may be obtained from these monomers. It is shown in this review that such products may be useful and some examples of their applications in further synthesis e.g. in the preparation of star polymers and as surface modifying agents in the synthesis of organic/inorganic hybrid materials are described.
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