Abstract
The oligomerization of ethylene oxide (EO) was investigated with several cationic catalysts to find a method for producing cyclic oligomers (crown ethers). The reactions were monitored by NMR spectroscopy (1H and 19F) and gas chromatography. The composition of oligomers was found to change during the reactions, and the production of 1,4-dioxane increased at the later stage of the reactions. This indicates that the composition of oligomers is kinetically controlled. The formation of higher cyclic oligomers was favored by the addition of tetrahydropyran or 1,4-dioxane to the system catalyzed by an oxonium salt; the maximum yield of cyclic tetramer was 16.8%. The effect of alkali metal salts was also examined. A template effect was observed to increase the amount of cyclic oligomer production.
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Kobayashi, S., Kobayashi, T. & Saegusa, T. Cationic Oligomerization of Ethylene Oxide. Polym J 15, 883–889 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.15.883
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.15.883