Cationic polymerization of 1-phenyl-4-ethyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane

Cationic polymerization of bicyclo ortho ester, 1-phenyl-4-ethyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo2.2.2]octane, was carried out with Lewis acids and cation sources to obtain the polyether containing ester group in the side chain. It was found that boron trifluoride etherate was the most active initiator in the Lewis acids. Magnesium perchlorate and triphenylcarbenium tetrafluoroborate, which have lower nucleophilic counter ions, initiated effectively the polymerization of bicyclo ortho ester.