Polymerization of cyclic acetals. I. Polymerization of 1,3,6-trioxacyclooctane and copolymerization with p-methoxystyrene

The polymerization of 1,3,6-trioxacyclooctane initiated by trityl salts with various counterions in CH₂Cl₂ was investigated. The reaction mixtures and the isolated polymers were analyzed by GPC (double detection—IR and UV at 254 nm),¹H-, and¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. In the early stage of polymerization only oligomers (mainly cyclic) were formed. With longer reaction times, linear polymers (yield 86–94%, M = 70,000–80,000) were obtained. The concentration of each individual oligomer passed through a maximum and decreased, reaching its equilibrium concentration. The time interval necessary to reach the maximum concentration increased with n. The total concentration of the oligomers was 0.2 mol L^?1 regardless of the initiator used. Conditions for polymerization with virtually no termination were found. Addition of p-methoxystyrene to the “living” polyacetals resulted in block copolymers. GPC,¹H- and ¹³C-NMR and acidolytic degradation were used to prove the formation of AB block copolymers. The reactive alkoxycarbenium growing species are responsible for the formation of block polyacetal-polymethoxystyrene copolymer.