CATIONIC POLYMERIZATION OF 1,3-PENTADIENE INITIATED WITH ALUMINUM-CHLORIDE IN NONPOLAR SOLVENT - STUDY OF THE INITIATION MECHANISM

The cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene initiated with aluminium chloride was studied in a non-polar solvent. Experiments carried out in the presence of 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine (DtBP) clearly demonstrat ed that the major initiation process is the direct initiation mechanis m, even though the existence of a cocatalytic mechanism to small exten t cannot be rejected. This result is also evidenced by the linear depe ndence of the conversion on AlCl3 concentration, and by experiments ca rried out in the presence of hydrogen chloride showing the independenc e of the polymerization yield on the hydrogen chloride concentration.