Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, Vol.32, No.13, 2531-2542, 1994
Synthesis of End-Functionalized Polystyrenes with Organosilicon End-Capping Reagents via Living Cationic Polymerization
The end-functionalization of living polymers with bases (methanol, benzylamine, diethyl sodiomalonate, and sodium methoxide) and organosilicon compounds [X-Si(CH3)(3); X- : CH2=C(CH3)COO-, CH3COO-, CH2=CHCH2-, C6H5-] was investigated in the living cationic polymerization of styrene initiated with the 1-phenylethyl chloride/SnCl4/ nBu(4)NCl system in CH2Cl2 at -15 degrees C. The four bases and C(6)H(5)SiMe(3), independent of their structures, were apparently incapable of reacting with the living end and invariably led to polystyrenes with the omega-end chlorine [similar to similar to similar to CH2CH(Ph)Cl] originated from the initiating system. The number-average end-functionality (($) over bar F-n) of the chloride, determined by H-1-NMR, was close to unity (($) over bar F-n > 0.9). The presence of chlorine in the polymer was also confirmed by elemental analysis. In contrast, the quenching by the trimethylsilyl compounds with X = methacryloxy, acetoxy, and allyl gave omega-end-functionalized polystyrenes with the corresponding terminal groups (X) for which the ($) over bar F-n values were close to unity (($) over bar F-n > 0.9). The effects of the structure of silyl compounds on end-capping are also discussed.
Keywords:ORGANO-SILICON COMPOUNDS;VINYL ETHER) OLIGOMERS;CARBOCATIONIC POLYMERIZATION;ELECTROPHILIC SUBSTITUTION;PARA-ALKOXYSTYRENES;INITIATING SYSTEMS;POLYVINYL ETHERS);CARBENIUM IONS;BETA-SILICON;POLYMERS