Homopolymers of methyl vinyl ether and processes for making same using borotrifluoride or etherates thereof, dioxane as catalyst and aromatic hydrocarbon as solvent

摘要

1,126,651. Homopolymers of methylvinyl ether. GENERAL ANILINE & FILM CORP 5 Nov., 1965 [6 Nov., 1964], No. 47106/65. Heading C3P. Methylvinyl ether is homopolymerized under substantially anhydrous conditions in a non- reactive solvent in the presence of 1,4-dioxan and boron trifluoride in a mole ratio of at least 1: 2 at a temperature between -100‹ and -40‹ C. The polymers are characterizedby the following properties:-(1) initially insoluble in water above 10‹ C., (2) precipitates from water solution at 28-32‹ C., (3) tensile strength in excess of 2000 p.s.i., and (4) a birefringent melting point of from 60‹ to 70‹ C. The boron trifluoride may be present in the form of a diethyl or dibutyl etherate dissolved in the dioxan or as a complex with the dioxan. The monomer is suitably purified by conventional methods prior to polymerization. A detailed technique for the low temperature polymerization is described. Toluene is the preferred non-reactive solvent.