Homopolymerization of 2-alkyl- and 2-aryl-2-oxazolines

2-Aryl- and 2-alkyl-2-oxazolines have been polymerized to poly-(N-aroyl)aziridines and poly(N-acyl)aziridines, respectively, in the presence of boron trifluoride. The polymers obtained were glassy, light yellow resins with molecular weights ranging from 3500 to 7500 (35–50 oxazoline units per chain). The polymerization rates have been determined for several of these monomers. A polymerization mechanism is proposed.