Cationic copolymerization of tetrahydrofuran with ethylene oxide in the presence of diols: Composition, microstructure, and properties of copolymers

Cationic copolymerization of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with ethylene oxide (EO) in the presence of diols leads to dihydroxy terminated telechelic copolyme rs. In the present article the influence of copolymerization conditions on the copolymer structure was studied in view of conclusions derived from stu dies of copolymerization kinetics and mechanism, It was shown that accordin g to established copolymerization mechanism. the number average molecular w eights increase linearly with conversion up to M-n congruent to 2500, hydro xyl rod groups are bound exclusively to EO units and copolymers are compose d of [EO]-[THF], segments. Microstructure of copolymer may be to some exten t regulated by changing reaction conditions. Some physical properties of co polymers also were studied. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.