Cationic Polymerization of 1,3-Pentadiene in the Presence of Vanadium Oxychloride

The cationic polymerization of 1,3-pentadiene in the presence of vanadium oxytrichloride is studied. 1,3-Pentadiene is shown to polymerize at a high rate to high monomer conversions in the absence of proton-donor compounds in the catalytic system. The initial rate of 1,3-pentadiene polymerization is proportional to the concentration of VOCl3 in the system and demonstrates an extremal dependence on the initial concentration of 1,3-pentadiene. The polymerization process is distinguished by an induction period whose duration increases with a decrease in the reaction temperature. Regardless of polymerization conditions, with an increase in the monomer conversion, the molecular-mass distribution of the polymer widens owing to formation of a high-molecular-mass fraction, which, depending on reaction conditions, can be consumed in formation of the gel fraction. It is shown that the degree of unsaturation and the microstructure of poly(1,3-pentadiene) are almost independent of the polymerization conditions.