-4 B S T RA C T 'I'etrahydrofuran and propylene oxide were copolymerized in the presence of the catalyst boron fluoride ethyl ether, and various co-catalysts, such as 1,2-propanediol, 1,3-propanediol, and 1,4-butanediol. Ethylene chloride was used as a solvent and a s an internal reference for analytical purposes. Reactions were carried out a t 0 OC and a t atmospheric pressure. Monomer concentrations were determined by vapor phase chromatography, and copolymer ~nolecular structure analyses were carried out by physical and chemical methods including infrared spectroscopy, vapor pressure osmometry, hydroxyl end-group analysis, and chemical reduction of unsaturated linlcages.The ho~l~opolymerizatio~~ of tetrahydrofuran did not take place, whereas that of propylene oxide proceeded a t a rapid rate. In the copolymerization of tetrahydrofuran with propylene oxide, the rate of disappearance of tetrahydrofuran was found to be independent of its concentration, but varied d~rectly with the concentration of propylene oxide. Under similar conditions, the rate of disappearance of propylene oxide was found to be ( a ) proportio~lal to the square of its concentration, and (b) inversely proportional to the concentration of tetrahydrofuran.Reactivity ratios varied between 1.3 and 1.8 for propylene oxide and between 0.1 and 0.6 for tetrahydrofuran. Molecular weights obtained by vapor pressure osmometry ranged between 460 and 740, and those obtained by hydroxyl end-group analysis ranged between 520 and 1 660. Infrared spectra confirmed the presence of hydroxyl groups and ether linkages in the copolylners preparecl. liesults 011 terminal unsaturation were negative.
RESUMJ?La copolymCrisation du tCtrahydrofural1 et de l'oxyde de propylbne fut effectuee en pr6sence clu catalyseur 1'CthCrate du fluorure de bore, et de cocatalyseurs tels le 1,2-propanediol, le 1,3-propanediol e t le 1,4butanediol. Le chlorure d1Cthylblle servait de solvant e t d'6talon interne pour fins d'analyse. Les concelltrations de monombres furent suivies, en fonction du temps, par la chromatographie en phase vapeur. L'analyse des copolymPres a port6 surtout sur l'btude de la structure au moyen de techniques physiques e t chimiques telles que la spectroscopie infrarouge, 110smom6trie B tension de vapeur, l'analyse chimique des groupements hydroxyles ter~ninaux e t la rCduction chimique des liaisons doubles.L'homopolymCrisation du tetrahydrofuran n'a pu @tre effectube, tandis qu'avec l'oxyde de propylhne seul, dans les conditions de rCaction adoptees, la rCaction s'est poursuivie B grande vitesse. Dans la copolymCrisation du tCtrahydrofuran avec l'oxyde de propylbne, la vitesse de disparition du tetrahydrofuran 6tait indCpendante de sa col~centratioll e t variait directement avec la concentration d'oxyde de propylbne. Dans les m@mes conditions, la vitesse de disparition de l'oxyde cle propylbne Ctait ( a ) proportionnelle au carre de sa concentratio11 e t (b) lnversement proportionnelle B la concentration du tbtrahydrofuran.Les rapports de rCactivit6 de l'oxyde d...