The Effect of Copper(11) Salts or Certain Bases on the Condensation Polymerization of 2, 4, 6-Tribromophenolt

Abstract

The role of a certain base or copper (II) salt in the condensation polymerization of 2, 4, 6- tribromophenol catalyzed by the DMF-CuCl2 complex was studied. In the reaction at a room temperature, the polymer yield, aftet reaching a maximum within 10 minutes, remained constant. However, the melecular weight of the polymer increased with progressing time even after several hours. The molecular weight also increased with repeating polymerization reactions, which occurred to the product of the initial reaction. These results suggest the occurrence of the head-to-tail polymerization. From the study on the mechanism of the polymerization, a certain base did not take part in the mutual interaction between it and copper (II) salt, but interacted with the monomer to promote the dissociation and to release HBr from it. The catalytic activity of copper 10 salt was found to depend on the Taft's substituent constant of anionic group which combined with copper (II) ion.