Cationic polymerization of glycidol. Polymer structure and polymerization mechanism

Abstract

Abstract Glycidol (2‐epoxy‐1‐propanol) was polymerized under the action of Lewis acids (BF 3 OEt 2, , SnCl 4 ) and protonic acids (CF 3 COOH, CF 3 SO 3 H). Polymers with number‐average molecular weights ( M̄ n ) varying from 2500 to 6000 g/mol were obtained. The structure of obtained polymers was characterized by 13 C and 29 Si NMR spectroscopy, and the amount of 1‐3 units, 1‐4 units and chain branches was determined. The structure of the polymers was related to the polymerization mechanism, especially to the contribution of activated monomer mechanism in chain growth.