Triphenylmethyl hexachloroantimonate initiation

In 1973 Penczek and Kubisa [137] published a detailed study of the interaction of triphenylmethyl hexachloroantimonate with 1,3-dioxolane. Polymerization occurs as a result of the interaction but the triphenylmethyl salt itself does not initiate the polymerization. Instead the sequence of reactions 

One other interesting observation reported by Penczek and Kubisa is shown in Table 12, where a comparison is made of the amount of 

Amount of 3-chloroethyl formate formed in the polymerization of 1,3-dioxolane 

Initiator [Ilo (10 mole r ) [M] (mole 1 ) j3-Chloroethyl formate found (10 mole 1 M moles per mole of initiator  

In conclusion, in the kinetics of dioxolane polymerizations with many catalysts, the initiation mechanism is complex and inefficient. The degree of efficiency seems to be related both to the cation and to the anion. Again as in the case of cyclic ethers and cyclic sulphides, an independent measurement of the number of active sites seems essential for precise kinetics. The most probable fep for the polymerization seems to be of the order of 10—501 mole sec . With careful choice of polymerization conditions a kinetically reversible polymerization occurs, but the molecular weight of the polymer produced is not related to the initiator concentration, probably as a result of a transfer reaction. 

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A general method for the synthesis of pyrylium salts is the cyclodehydration of 1,5-dicarbonylalkanes (Scheme 4.4). Acetic anhydride is commonly used as both solvent and reagent, but since the initial product is a 4/f-pyran, an oxidant such as the triphenylmethyl (trityl) cation in the form of triphenylmethyl hexachloroantimonate is added (Ph3C + [H ] -> Ph3CH). In certain cases, however, it is advantageous to isolate the pyran and to oxidize it in a separate step. 

A number of years ago triphenylmethyl cation, Ph3C, formed in situ by dissociation of triphenylmethyl chloride, was shown [73] to initiate the polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl vinyl ether in m-cresol solvent. More recently certain stable carbonium ion salts, notably hexachloroantimonate (SbCls) salts of cycloheptatrienyl (tropylium, C7H7) and triphenylmethyl cations have been shown [74, 50] to be very efficient initiators of the cationic polymerization of many reactive monomers [27, 29, 75]. Since the discovery of the effectiveness of the SbClg salt, triphenylmethyl salts with different anions have also been used [76—78]. The most detailed kinetic studies using these initiators have been carried out on alkyl vinyl ethers [27, 30] and A-vinylcarbazole [39] in homogeneous solution in methylene chloride. 

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