LIVING CATIONIC POLYMERIZATION OF BETA-(VINYLOXY)ETHYL CINNAMATE

Trifluoroacetic acid and ZnCl2 have been used as the initiating system for the living cationic polymerization of beta-(vinyloxy)ethyl cinnam ate (VEC). In contrast to a previous initiating system [EtAlCl(2) and 1-(isobutoxy)ethyl acetate], the use of the new system led to excellen t agreement between the molar masses of PVEC prepared and those calcul ated from monomer and trifluoroacetic acid feed ratios. The effect of temperature on the rate of VEC polymerization using this initiating sy stem has been studied. Also reported is a comparison between the polym erization of VEC initiated using different Lewis acids and trifluoroac etic acid.