New synthetic method of hydroxyl-terminated telechelic polyacetals based on polyaddition of hydroxyalkyl vinyl ether in the presence of diol

Abstract

Hydroxyl-terminated telechelic polyacetals were synthesized by polyaddition of 4-hydroxybutyl vinyl ether (HBVE; CH₂=CH-O-CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-OH) in the presence of 1, 4-butanediol with p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (TSAM) as a catalyst in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 0°C. The structural analysis showed that the produced polymers had hydroxyl groups at both the chain ends. The polyacetals thus obtained were stable under neutral and basic conditions, but exhibited smooth degradation with treatment of acid to give 1, 4-butanediol in quantitative yield. The polymers were highly viscous liquid and its glass transition temperature (T_g) was -72°C.