| Abstract: | The amounts of tetraoxane produced in the polymerization of trioxane catalyzed by BF3·O(C2H5)2 were measured in various solvents. The maximum amount of tetraoxane produced depends on the nature of solvent used. This amount was independent of the initial concentration of the catalyst in ethylene dichloride and in nitrobenzene. On the other hand, in benzene, the amount of tetraoxane produced decreased slightly with increasing initial catalyst concentration. This result was explained by the reaction of tetraoxane produced with the residual catalyst as well as with the active center. The maximum amount of tetraoxane produced decreased, other conditions being similar, in the order, nitrobenzene > ethylene dichloride > benzene solvent. This order may be explained in terms of a longer lifetime of the active center in the more polar solvent, leading to the formation of tetraoxane. |
