STOPPED-FLOW FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED STUDIES IN POLYMER CHEMISTRY

The application of stopped-flow FT-IR spectroscopy to group transfer p olymerization (GTP) and cyclic oligomeric carbonate formation is descr ibed. The influence of catalyst structure, propagating end stereochemi stry and degree of polymerization (DP) on the rate of monomer addition was examined for GTP. Also, the major GTP termination process was ide ntified and characterized. Model reactions were used to study the kine tics of acyl ammonium salt formation and subsequent conversion to uret hane. These results were used to further develop the mechanism of bisp henol A-bischloroformate macrocyclization.