Polymerization of propylene oxide by the Pruitt-Baggett catalyst

The Pruitt-Baggett adduct (PBA) which formed from the reaction of FeCl3 with propylene oxide (PO) was hydrolysed in diethyl ether (ether) solutions at different mole ratios. Although the hydrolysates were insoluble in ether they could be converted into PO-soluble form (PBC) by a thermal treatment providing that the r value was kept smaller or equal to unity. PBC polymerized PO concurrently into a mixture of high molecular weight crystalline polymer with low molecular weight non-crystallizable oligomers. The traces catalytic activity shown by PBA substantially enhanced as the hydrolysis ratio r, increased from 0 to 0.5. Although the PBC obtained at r = 0.50 gave maximum yield of polymer, the maximum stereoregular yield (crystalline polymer/oligomer mass ratio) was observed at mole ratio.Publisher's Versio