PROCESS FOR POLYMERIZING ISOBUTYLENE OXIDE

1330693 Isobutylene oxide polymers DAICEL Ltd 14 Dec 1970 [15 Dec 1969] 59212/70 Heading C3R [Also in Division B1] High molecular weight homopolymers and copolymers of isobutylene oxide are prepared by polymerization in the presence of a dihydrocarbon zinc compound of the formula ZnRR1 (wherein R and R1 denote the same or different hydrocarbon radicals), water and a sulphurcontaining compound of the formula wherein Y denotes oxygen or sulphur, at least one Y denoting sulphur, Z denotes -R 1 , -OR 1 , -SR 1 or -NR 1 R 2 , R 1 denotes alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkenyl or alkoxyalkyl, R 2 denotes hydrogen or R 1 , M denotes Zn, Cd, Mg, Al or Fe, X denotes hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, a monovalent hydrocarbon radical or and n denotes a positive integer corresponding to the valency of M. For 100 parts by weight of isobutylene oxide there is preferably used 0À05 to 20 parts by weight of dihydrocarbon compound, 0À01 to 1À5 parts by weight of water and 0À3 to 20 parts by weight of sulphur-containing compound. The latter compound is exemplified by thiocarboxylates, dithiocarboxylates, thiocarbonates, dithiocarbonates, trithiocarbonates, xanthates, thiocarbamates and dithiocarbamates. The polymerization may be conducted in the presence or absence of solvents, antioxidants, carbon black and other stabilizers. Comonomers include ethylene, propylene and styrene oxides. Uses.-Films, fibres and plastics.