Ring opening during the cationic polymerization of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane: Cyclic ketene acetal initiation with sulfuric acid supported on carbon

The stable cyclic ketene acetal, 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane, 7, has been polymerized cationically in pentane, CH₂Cl₂ and THF at 25°C to form a polymer which is composed of both ring-opened (40–50%) and ring-retained (50–60%) structures. Initiation was catalyzed by using H₂SO₄-supported on activated carbon black. This unique outcome differs significantly from the cationic polymerization of several other five- and six-membered ring cyclic ketene acetals which gave 100% 1,2-vinylpolymerization under these conditions. As the polymerization temperature increased in cationic polymerization of 7 the ring-opened content increased and the molecular weight of the polymers decreased in such solvents as cyclohexane, 1,2-dichloroethane, dimethoxyethane, and bis-(2-methoxyethyl) ether. The mechanism of this polymerization is discussed. This research also illustrated the ability to initiate the cationic polymerization of cyclic ketene acetals by acidified carbon black while avoiding subsequent polymer decomposition. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.