| Institution: | 1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Kanagawa University, Rokkakubashi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama 221-8686, Japan, and “Synthesis and Control”, PRESTO, Japan
Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST), Japan;2. Department of Applied Chemistry, Kanagawa University, Rokkakubashi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama 221-8686, Japan, and “Synthesis and Control”, PRESTO, Japan |
| Abstract: | Polycondensation normally proceeds in a step-growth reaction manner to give polymers with a wide range of molecular weights. However, the polycondensation of potassium 2-alkyl-5-cyano-4-fluorophenolate ( 1 ) proceeded at 150°C in a chain polymerization manner from initiator, 4-fluoro-4′-trifluoromethyl benzophenone ( 2 ), to give aromatic polyethers having controlled molecular weights and low polydispersities (Mw/Mn ⩽ 1.2). The resulting polycondensation of 1 had all of the characteristics of living polymerization and displayed a linear correlation between molecular weight and monomer conversion, maintaining low polydispersities. Sulfolane was a better solvent for chain-growth polycondensation of 1 than other aprotic solvents. The polyether from 1 with a low polydispersity showed higher crystallinity than that with a broad molecular weight distribution, obtained by the conventional polycondensation of 1 without 2 . |
