| Abstract: | This study has shown a nearly perfect living polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) to proceed not only in nonpolar media (e.g., n-hexane) but in relatively polar CH2Cl2 solvent, provided that the HI concentration is sufficiently high. The produced polymers had a nearly monodisperse molecular weight distribution (M w/M n ≤ 1.1); the number-average molecular weight (M n) increased in direct proportion to IBVE conversion and its increase continued on the addition of a fresh feed of the monomer at the end of the polymerization. The use of a more polar medium (PhNO2/CH2Cl2) or a lower HI concentration leads to chain transfer reactions, by promoting the ionic dissociation of the “nondissociated” living propagating species. The successful living polymerization by HI/I2 in CH2Cl2 indicates a very strong interaction between the iodide anion and the growing end. |
