Cationic Copolymerization of 2-Chloroethyl Vinyl Ether with Styrene Derivatives. III. Solvent and Catalyst Effects on Relative Reactivity

Abstract

The change in relative reactivity in the cationic copolymerization of 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether and styrene derivatives was investigated with various catalysts and solvents. p-Methoxystyrene, p-methylstyrene, and a-methyl-styrene were used as styrene derivatives. The styrene content in the co-polymer increased when a polar solvent and/or a strong catalyst was used. The change of relative reactivity in the copolymerization of 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether with styrene derivatives was much greater than that in the copolymerization between vinyl ethers or styrene derivatives. When nitro-ethane was used as a solvent, not only the polarity but also the nucleophilicity influenced the copolymer composition. The results were discussed by two energies, E^π and E_rs, which are measures of complex formation between monomer and carbonium ion, and stabilization energy in the transition state, respectively.