Abstract
Selective polymerization of glycidyl vinyl ether (GVE), which has two polymerizable functional groups, such as epoxy and vinyl ether groups, was investigated. Radical coplymerization of GVE with various vinyl monomers was carried out using AIBN as an initiator under nitrogen. When N-phenylmaleimide or N-phenoxycarbonyloxymaleimide were used as comonomers, copolymers having pendant epoxide were obtained in high yield. Alternating ring-opening coplymerization of GVE with phthalic anhydride was performed using various catalysts such as tert-amines, quaternary ammonium salts or crown ether complexes. The polymerization gave a polyester having pendant vinyl ether groups. In this reaction the dicyclohexano-18-crown-6/potassium phenoxide complex showed the highest catalytic activity. Cationic polymerization of GVE was also performed; however, no soluble polymer having pendant epoxide was obtained with BF3OEt2 and CF3SO3H. On the other hand, cationic polymerization of GVE did not take place with I2 and HI/I2.
