The Polymerizations of 1, 3-Dioxolane and Tetrahydrofuran by the Binary System of Metal Acetylacetonates and Acetyl Chloride

Abstract

It was found that 1, 3-dioxolane and tetrahydrofuran were polymerized by some metal acetylacetonates Me(acac)x in the presence of acetyl chloride at O C to give these polymers with a polyether structure(Tables l and 2). The binary system of Fe(acac)8 and acetyl chloride was the most effective while the yield and the reduced visc sities of these polymers were increased with the reaction time(Figs.3, 4and 7). In the polymerization initiated by this initiator system, an induction. period appeared, which was shortened when the nitiator system was aged at O C. From the ESR spectra during the reaction of Fe(acac)3 with acetyl chloride, the production of ferric chloride was confirmed. Accordingly, it was assumed that the polymerization was initiated by an acetyl cation or ferric chloride produced through the reaction of Fe(acac)8 with acetyl chloride.