Polymerization of Naphthalene by the Use of Anhydrous Aluminum Chloride

Abstract

Naphthalene was polymerized by the use of anhydorous aluminum chloride without solvents and the relation between the chemical structure of product and the reaction condition was examined.The reaction was curried out at 90, -v1600C for O.5.v2.0 hours with the molar ratio of anhydrous aluminum chloride to naphthalene of O.5 v2. 0.
The yield of polymerized product increased to more than900/e with increasing reaction temperature, reaction time and the amount of AICI3,
Based on the observed similarity in the IR and NMR speetra of resin and asphaltene fracge tionS of the products, it is suggested that their structural features are qualitatively similar.Moreover, it was found that the resins and asphaltenes obtained under various condition have quite similar average molecular weightof 300 to 370, and 410 to 520, respectively.This indicate that, on an average, 2.3N2.9 naphthalene units for resin and 3.2, y4.1 naphthalene units for asphalteneare present.
Thus the products consist of mixture of a greater part of aromatic and smaller part of alicyclic component.
Analysis- of IR spectra revealed that the products with more than three units of naphthalene consist of componentsbonded at the 2- and 6-position of naphthalene nucleus.