The Copolymerization of the Vinyl Monomer with a Cyclic Compound. I. The Cationic Copolymerization of Some Vinyl Monomers with 3,3-Bis (chloromethyl) oxetane

The copolymerization of several vinyl monomers, such as styrene, α-methylstyrene and isobutyl vinyl ether, with 3,3-bis(chloromethyl)oxetane catalyzed by Lewis acids (boron trifluoride-diethyl etherate, stannic chloride and triethylaluminum-water) in methylene chloride at 0°C has been investigated. In these copolymerizations, the copolymers were not obtained, though a mixture of the corresponding homopolymers was obtained in some cases. The results have been explained on the basis of the differences in reactivity resulting from the structures of the two propagating chain ends.