Isomerization polymerization and copolymerization of glycidyl alkanoates catalyzed by methylaluminum bis(2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenoxide)

The isomerization polymerizations of glycidyl propionate (Ib), octanoate (I c), and stearate (Id) with methylaluminum bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphe noxide) (3) were investigated. The polymerizations selectively gave poly(2- alkyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,2-diyloxymethylene)s (2), although the polymer yield as well as the polymer molecular weight significantly decreased as the acyl chain of 1 was lengthened. These polymers readily hydrolyzed to glycerin a nd the corresponding fatty acids under mild conditions. The copolymerizatio ns of glycidyl acetate (1a) with these monomers were also examined. In any combination, the composition of the obtained copolymer was essentially iden tical with the feed ratio, while both copolymer yield and molecular weight decreased as the feed of la was decreased. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.