Cationic polymerization of β‐pinene and styrene

Abstract
The yield, composition, and molecular weight of homopolymers and copolymers of β‐pinene and styrene are described as a function of the feed, temperature, and solvent. Fractionation, gel permeation chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of GPC fractions are used as analytical tools to present evidence for copolymerization in methylene dichloride. Additional support for copolymerization is obtained from the relation of polymer composition to percent conversion. The reduction of molecular weights of homopolymers by aromatic solvents was investigated.