The kinetics and mechanism of ε-caprolactone polymerization under the action of aniline in the presence of alcohols

Abstract

A kinetic study has been made of the polymerization of ε-caprolactone under the action of aniline with additions of n-hexanol and (3-phenoxy-2-hydroxypropyl)aniline. It has been shown that along with the autocatalytic initiation and chain propagation of polylactone there is also a parallel reaction of ε-caprolactone with OH groups of alcohols resulting in the formation of alkoxy acids. These acids in turn catalyze ε-caprolactone polymerization under the action of aniline. It is also shown that the reactivity of OH groups in the reaction of lactone with alcohol (this being the limiting stage) depends on the existence and stability of associates of OH groups in alcohols. Strong associates of amino-alcohol prevent the reaction of ε-caprolactone with OH groups.