Copolymerization of 3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran with cyclic ethers

The copolymerization of 3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran with selected cyclic ethers was studied. Although 3,4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran did not homopolymerize, it readily copolymerized with propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin in an alternating fashion using the cationic initiator PF₅. The reactivity ratios r₁ and r₂ for the copolymerization of 3, 4-dimethyltetrahydrofuran and epichlorohydrin were r₁ = 0.22 ± 0.05 and r₂ = 0.11 ± 0.01, respectively.