Anion exchange resins prepared from polystyrene crosslinked via a Friedel–Crafts reaction

Abstract

Abstract The preparation of anion exchange resins from polystyrene crosslinked via a Friedel–Crafts reaction is investigated. Chloromethylation of a highly swollen styrene–hexahydrotriacrylolyl‐ s ‐triazine copolymer with a mixture of chlorosulfonic acid and methylal is accompanied by the crosslinking of the initially flexible copolymer. The crosslinking efficiency is dependent on the conditions (temperature, nature of solvent) of chloromethylation and can be explained by cationic postpolymerization of polystyrene or poly(benzylchloride), which takes place concurrently with the chloromethylation.