Controlled polymerization of glycidyl methyl ether initiated by onium salt/triisobutylaluminum and investigation of the polymer LCST

Amélie Labbé (1) , Stéphane Carlotti (1, 2) , Alain Deffieux (1) , Akira Hirao (3)

1 LCPO - Laboratoire de Chimie des polymères organiques
2 Team 1 LCPO : Polymerization Catalyses & Engineering
3 Polymeric and Organic Department, TIT Tokyo

New initiating systems developed for monomer activated anionic polymerization of propylene oxide, i.e. onium salt/triisobutylaluminum, were applied to the polymerization of glycidyl methyl ether. At low to medium temperature they yield fast polymerization and allow the synthesis of poly(glycidyl methyl ether) with high molar masses in a controlled way. Poly(glycidyl methyl ether) exhibits a critical solubility temperature (LCST) in water which is influenced by the polymer molar masses. Surprisingly poly(glycidyl methyl ether)s show also some tendency to crystallize in water at low temperature, which perturb their solubility characteristics and behaviour in water.

Mots clés: water; solubility; polymerisation; polymers

Domaines: Polymères

Amélie Labbé, Stéphane Carlotti, Alain Deffieux, Akira Hirao. Controlled polymerization of glycidyl methyl ether initiated by onium salt/triisobutylaluminum and investigation of the polymer LCST. Macromolecular Symposia, 2007, 249-50 (1), pp.392-397. ⟨10.1002/masy.200750409⟩. ⟨hal-00279954⟩