CATIONIC POLYMERIZATION OF 1,3-PENTADIENE IN THE PRESENCE OF ARENES

The cationic polymerizations of 1,3-pentadiene initiated by AlCl3 in n-hexane at 30 degrees C have been carried out in the presence of various arenes, i. e.,benzene, toluene, p-xylene, o-xylene, m-xylene and mesitylene. The presence of all these arenes have reduced to different extents the formation of crosslinked products. Namely, the crosslinking reaction, a major side-reaction during the cationic polymerization of 1, 3-pentadiene, has been suppressed by adding the aromatic compounds. The results showed that a chain transfer to arene takes place and this transfer process hinders the generation of the crosslinked polymer. IR and H-1 NMR evidences have confirmed the existence of the corresponding aryl groups in the resulting polymers.