The resinification of 2-ethenylfuran catalyzed by trifluroacetic acid in water-chloroform mixtures

The 2-ethenylfuran polymerization catalyzed by trifluoroacetic acid in a wa ter-chloroform mixture yields oligomers at the beginning and products at hi gher reaction times. Some features of the polymerization resemble a polycon densation process such as molecular weight increasing with time. Polymers o btained were characterized and its structure did not differ from those obta ined with 1 (2-furyl) 1-ethanol. Thus, a vinylic propagation can be ruled o ut. However, the monomer concentration decreased steadily during polymeriza tion and the kinetic first order in monomer and catalyst could only be expl ained assuming a steady state for the polarized ester concentration, which is the active center that gives the corresponding carbinol. Both of these f acts suggest a chain reaction. Computer simulation helped to confirm the en visaged mechanism for this system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.