초록
(p-Methylbenzyl)-o-cyanopyridinium hexafluoroantimonate, a new catalyst, was synthesized by the reaction of o-cyanopyridine with α-bromo-p-xylene followed by exchange of counteranion with SbF6θ. We examined the effect of the catalyst on the bulk polymerization of tetrahydrofuran under various conditions. The catalytic activity was best in the presence of 1 : 1 of epichlorohydrin used as cocatalyst versus catalyst concentration. The resulting polymers had relatively low conversions in 1.0-40%. Their number average molecular weights were in the range of 800 to 5300. Propagation rate increased with increase in temperature according to an Arrhenius expression giving an activation energy of 62 KJ/mol. We also found catalyst proceeds via a cationic mechanism.