Equilibrium Cationic Polymerization of Tetrahydrofuran in Benzene

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Abstract
The equilibrium cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran in benzene is investigated in the 15 to 50°C range. Polymerizations are initiated with triethyloxonium hexafluorophos-phate (Et3O+PF5 −) and performed using high vacuum techniques. It is shown that, at a given temperature, the equilibrium monomer concentration varies linearly with polymer concentration. Values of ΔGlc, the free-energy change upon the polymerization of 1 mole of liquid monomer to 1 base-mole of liquid amorphous polymer of infinite chain length, is deduced from these results. Values of ΔGlc, obtained are in good agreement with those found in the literature for the equilibrium polymerization of tetrahydrofuran in bulk, However, there is a large discrepancy between these values of