ANIONIC AND COORDINATION POLYMERIZATION OF 3-BUTYROLACTONE

Aluminoxane catalysts and anionic initiators can polymerize 3-butyrola ctone, 3-BL, to high molecular weight stereoregular polymers. With the racemic monomer, [R,S]-3-BL, anionic polymerization with alkali metal complexes can form syndiotactic polymers and aluminoxane catalysts ca n form either highly isotactic, syndiotactic, or atactic poly-3-butyro lactone, P-3-BL, depending on the composition and method of preparatio n of the aluminoxane and the conditions of polymerization.