6533b86ffe1ef96bd12cd53f

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Conventional Oxyanionic versus Monomer-Activated Anionic Copolymerization of Ethylene Oxide with Glycidyl Ethers: Striking Differences in Reactivity Ratios.

Johannes C. LiermannDaniel LeibigHolger FreyJana Herzberger

subject

Polymers and PlasticsEthylene oxideComonomerOrganic Chemistry02 engineering and technology010402 general chemistry021001 nanoscience & nanotechnologyRing (chemistry)01 natural sciences0104 chemical sciencesInorganic Chemistrychemistry.chemical_compoundMonomerchemistryPolymer chemistryMaterials ChemistryCopolymerAlkoxy groupChelationReactivity (chemistry)0210 nano-technology

description

Detailed understanding of the monomer distribution in copolymers is essential to tailor their properties. For the first time, we have been able to utilize in situ 1H NMR spectroscopy to monitor the monomer-activated anionic ring opening copolymerization (AROP) of ethylene oxide (EO) with a glycidyl ether comonomer, namely, ethoxy ethyl glycidyl ether (EEGE). We determine reactivity ratios and draw a direct comparison to conventional oxyanionic ROP. Surprisingly, the respective monomer reactivities differ strongly between the different types of AROP. Under conventional oxyanionic conditions similar monomer reactivities of EO and EEGE are observed, leading to random structures (rEO = 1.05 ± 0.02, rEEGE = 0.94 ± 0.02). Addition of a cation complexing agent (18-crown-6) showed no influence on the relative reactivity of EO and EEGE (rEO = rEEGE = 1.00 ± 0.02). In striking contrast, monomer-activated AROP produces very different monomer reactivities, affording strongly tapered copolymer structures (rEO = 8.00 ±...

10.1021/acsmacrolett.6b00701https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35614746