Epoxides lithium bases polymerized

Reed 332) has reported that reaction of ethylene oxide with the a,(a-dilithiumpoly-butadiene in predominantly hydrocarbon media (some residual ether from the dilithium initiator preparation was present) produced telechelic polybutadienes with hydroxyl functionalities (determined by infrared spectroscopy) of 2.0 + 0.1 in most cases. A recent report by Morton, et al.146) confirms the efficiency of the ethylene oxide termination reaction for a,ta-dilithiumpolyisoprene functionalities of 1.99, 1.92 and 2.0j were reported (determined by titration using Method B of ASTM method E222-66). It should be noted, however, that term of a, co-dilithium-polymers with ethylene oxide resulted in gel formation which required 1-4 days for completion. In general, epoxides are not polymerized by lithium bases 333,334), presumably because of the unreactivity of the strongly associated lithium alkoxides641 which are formed. With counter ions such as sodium or potassium, reaction of the polymeric anions with ethylene oxide will effect polymerization to form block copolymers (Eq. (80) 334 336>). 

One major interest in these organic bases is the activation of living polymer chains with lithium counterions toward epoxide polymerization. This is of particular interest for the synthesis of poly(EO)-containing block copolymers by sequential anionic... 

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