Caesium as counter-ion in the anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide—II: Kinetics in hmpt

Results are reported for the kinetics of the anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide in hexamethylphosphoramide using the caesium alkoxide of the monoethylether of diethylene glycol as initiator at 40·0°.The reactions were found to be first order in monomer and 0·5 in initiator; rates are depressed by adding caesium tetraphenyl boride. These results indicate that propagation takes place by free ions and ion pairs; the respective propagation rate constants are k_(?) = 22 and k_(±) = 0·2 M 'sec.