Linear polyisobutylene, inifer

The inifer technique is a most convenient route for the preparation of well-defined end-reactive polyisobutylenes (PIB)(1). These materials may be linear or three-arm star telechelics carrying exactly 2.0 or 3.0 end-functions, respectively. The inifer technique yields tert.-chlorine-telechelic product, for example,... 

The first part concludes with a discussion of the similarity between the mechanisms of initiation and chain transfer, the appreciation of which led to the inifer concept, which in turn yielded new telechelics, networks, sequential copolymers, etc. The second part of this presentation focuses on practical consequences of understanding details of the mechanism of initiation. The synthesis of a new family of telechelic linear and tri-arm star polyisobutylenes will be described. Among the new prepolymers are telechelic olefins, epoxides, aldehydes, alcohols, and amines. The preparation of new ionomers and polyisobutylene-based polyurethanes will be outlined and some fundamental properties of these new materials will be discussed. 

New Products Prepared by the Inifer Technique. A new family of linear and three-arm star polyisobutylenes have been prepared by the inifer technique. The inifer systems used were cumyl chloride (minifer) p-dicumyl chloride (binifer) and sym-tricumyl chloride (trinifer) always in combination with BCI3 coinitiator (1) ... 

Fundamental studies directed toward the elucidation of the mechanism of olefin i.e.f isobutylene, polymerizations yielded a new method for the synthesis of novel linear and tri-arm star telechelic polymers and oligomers [1,2]. The synthesis involves the use of bi- or tri-functional initiator/transfer agents, so called inifers (binifers and trinifers), in conjunction with BCI3 coinitiator and isobutylene, and gives rise to polyisobutylenes carrying exactly two or three terminal -CH2-C(CH3)2Cl groups. These liquid telechelic polyisobutylene chlorides can be readily and quantitatively converted to telechelic polyisobutylene di- or tri-olefins [2,3] which in turn can quantitatively yield by hydroboration/oxidation telechelic polyisobutylene di- and triols [4,5]. 

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