Polymeric transfer reagents reactions with nucleophiles

Termination will occur when the carbocation undergoes reaction with nucleophilic species other than monomer to produce a dead chain and no re-initiation. Since cationic polymerizations are carried out with high-purity reagents and under rigorous conditions this reaction is much less likely than chain transfer to monomer. The mutual repulsion of the charged polymerization sites ensures that bimolecular termination cannot occur (unlike in free-radical polymerization, where this is the most probable termination route). Recombination of the cation with the counter-ion will occur, and these termination reactions are often very specific to the chemistry of the initiator. 

Alkyl azides. Sodium azide as such is of little use for preparation of alkyl azides by nucleophilic substitution reactions because of solubility problems. The reaction can be carried out under phase-transfer conditions with methyltrioctylam-monium chloride/NaN3.3 An even more effective polymeric reagent can be obtained by reaction of NaN3 with Amberlite IR-400.4 This reagent converts alkyl bromides, iodides, or tosylates into azides at 20° in essentially quantitative yield. The solvents of choice are CH3CN, CHC13, ether, or DMF. 

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