2-FURYLOXIRANE .1. ANIONIC AND COORDINATION HOMOPOLYMERIZATION AND COPOLYMERIZATION

2-Furyloxirane (FO) was polymerized by various anionic and coordinatio n initiators both in bulk and solution. The corresponding polyethers h ad relatively low DPns (up to about 100) and possessed relatively irre gular structures arising from propagation reactions involving both C a lpha and C beta oxirane ring opening, except when aluminium isopropoxi de was used as catalyst. The glass transition temperature (T-g) of the se polymers was always lower than room temperature and approached 15 d egrees C for the highest molecular weight. Propylene oxide did not cop olymerize with FO, whereas butylene oxide gave copolymers, but the rea ctivity of FO remained much higher and the products were therefore ric h in this comonomer unit. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.