Cationic polymerization initiated by intercalation compounds of lewis acids. II. Initiating ability and mechanism of action of the initiators

The initiating ability of the graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) of SbCl₅, FeCl₃, and AlBr₃ was investigated. It was found that GICs were able to initiate the polymerization of monomers of different types–cyclosiloxanes, 1,2-epoxides, vinyl ethers, lactones, and vinyl monomers. GICs of SbCl₅ initiated also the polymerization of tetrahydrofuran. The interaction of the monomers (with the exception of the lactones) caused a size increase of the GICs and deformations in their lamellar structure. Relatively high-molecular poly(vinyl ethers) and polydimethylcyclosiloxanes were obtained. The mechanism of action of GICs was discussed.