MONOEPOXY POLYMERIZATION INITIATED BY BF(3)-AMINE COMPLEXES IN BULK .3. INFLUENCE OF GAMMA-BUTYROLACTONE ON POLYMER FORMATION

The influence of gamma-butyrolactone (gamma-BL), used as solvent of BF 3-amine complexes, on the polymerization of monoepoxides was studied. Different intermediate reaction products of PGE initiated by BF3-4-met hoxyaniline (BF3-4MA) previously solubilized in gamma-BL (55% by weigh t), were separated and analyzed by H-1-NMR. It is shown that there is the opening of both epoxy and gamma-BL. The latter does not homopolyme rize, but copolymerizes well with epoxy groups. The use of a large qua ntity of gamma-BL leads to a decreasing molar mass of the formed polym er. The kinetic study allowed to propose the mechanism of the cationic polymerization of epoxy initiated by BF3-amine complex in the presenc e of gamma-BL. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.