Polymerization of 1,3‐dioxolane

Abstract Polymerization of 1,3‐dioxolane was examined with organo‐aluminum compounds, acetyl chloride‐metal halides, and acetic anhydride‐perchloric acid as initiators. Poly‐1,3‐dioxolane obtained easily with these initiators was a white crystalline solid with a melting point of 50–55°C. 1,3‐Dioxolanes with a substituent at C 2 ‐atom could not be polymerized with the initiators described above, while those having a substituent at C 4 ‐atom only polymerized to viscous materials, even though the rate of polymerization was slower than that of unsubstituted 1,3‐dioxolane. A discussion about the position of bond scission of the 1,3‐dioxolane ring in cationic polymerization is presented.