| Abstract: | Styrene-butadiene-styrene linear block copolymer (SBS) can be epoxidized with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of methyltrioctylammonium tetrakis (diperoxotungsto) phosphate(3-) as the catalyst in a biphasic system. The effects of reaction time, temperature, solvent, the ratio of the organic phase to the aqueous phase, the concentration of the catalyst, hydrogen peroxide and polymer, respectively, are studied on the conversion of double bonds to oxirane groups. 1H-NMR analysis confirms the absence of ring opening side reaction in this epoxidation reaction system up to at least 70% conversion of the double bonds. When the conversion of double bonds is over about 70% the resultant polymer is insoluble in chloroform even at reflux but soluble in polar solvents such as DMSO when heated. Toluene is a better solvent for the reaction than dichloroethane. The reaction rate constants are measured at four temperatures and the activation energy for the reaction with toluene as solvent is determined as 49.9 kJ/mol. |
