Polymerization of Alkylene Oxides

Abstract

A review of catalysts for the high polymerization of alkylene oxides was given, from which it was deduced that a metal-oxygen bond was an essential element of active species in most cases.Then, two catalytic systems which were found in our laboratory were discussed. First, the active species of the system of diethylzinc and water was mentioned, and the reaction mechanism was suggested. The second system consists of an organometallic compound and an acidic oxide such as alumina or silica-alumina. These systems induce anionic polymerization of alkylene oxide and it can be assumed that adsorption of monomer on metal of the metal-oxygen bond plays an influential role both in activation of monomer and in controlling the stereoregularity.