Polymerization of tetrahydrofuran initiated by heteropolyacid in the presence of substituted oxirane

Both propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin could effectively promote the poly merization of tetrahydrofuran initiated with a heteropolyacid, H3PW12O40, i n low concentration. Water or butylene glycol was used to control the molec ular weight of the product in the range of 1000-3000. The promotion activit y of propylene oxide was similar to that of ethylene oxide and better than that of epichlorohydrin, especially when water was introduced. The polymeri zation started upon addition of propylene oxide or epichlorohydrin. After t he polymerization stopped, it could be reinitiated with the addition of a n ew portion of propylene oxide or epichlorohydrin. The products were found t o be copolyether glycol with hydroxyl groups at both ends. The melting poin t of the polymer obtained by using propylene oxide promoter was about 20 de grees C lower than that of polytetramethylene ether glycol having the same molecular weight. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.