Patent GB-1355083-A (GB)
Title: Process for polymerisation of epoxides
IPC: C08G65/02
Filed: 1971-04-19
Abstract: 1355083 Catalytic polymerization of alkylene oxides OSAKA SODA CO Ltd 19 April 1971 [30 Oct 1970] 26935/71 Heading C3R [Also in Division B1] A polyether is prepared by homo- or copolymerizing at least one compound containing a 1,2-epoxy grouping in the presence of catalyst comprising the reaction product of a component (I) which is at least one reactant selected from compounds having the formulae and S n X 2 , wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, M is a Group IV element having an atomic number of from 14 to 72 (i.e. Si, Ti, Ge, Zr, Sn, Hf), the or each R is an alkyl, alkoxy or aryl group, the or each R<SP>1</SP> is an alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, aryl or aralkyl group when M is a Group IVa element (Si, Ge, Sn) and an alkoxy group when M is a Group IVb element (Ti, Zr, Hf) and the or each X is a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom, with the provisos that, if component (I) is a single compound of formula R<SP>1</SP> m MX 4-m , such compound is a halide or alkoxy halide and that, if component (I) contains more than one such compound, at least one such compound contains halogen, and a component (II) which is at least one phosphorus-containing reactant selected from (a) compounds having the formulae (R<SP>11</SP>O) 3 PO, Z(R<SP>11</SP>O) 2 PO, Z 2 (R<SP>111</SP>O)PO, (A) (B) (C) (R<SP>111</SP>O) 3 P, Z(R<SP>111</SP>O) 2 P, Z 2 (R<SP>111</SP>O)P and RuO) 2 POP(OR<SP>11</SP>) 2 , wherein each R<SP>11</SP> (which may be the same or. different) is a hydrogen atom, a C 1 -C 12  alkyl group, a C 1 -C 12  halogenated alkyl group, a C 2 -C 12  alkenyl group or a cycloalkyl group which has 5-7 carbon atoms in the ring and which may contain at least one alkyl or alkenyl side chain containing up to 4 carbon atoms, the or each R<SP>111</SP> (which may be the same or different, if applicable) is a C 1 -C 12  alkyl group, a C 1 -C 12  halogenated alkyl group, a C 2 -C 12  alkenyl group or a cycloalkyl group which has 5-7 carbon atoms in the ring and which may contain at least one alkyl or alkenyl side chain containing up to 4 carbon atoms and the or each Z (which may be the same or different, if applicable) is a C 1 -C 8  alkyl group, an aralkyl group or an aryl group, and (b) combinations of a phosphorus compound (which compound is an oxide, oxytrihalide, trihalide or pentahalide of phosphorus or a compound having a formula selected from XY 2 PO, X 2 YPO, XY 2 P and X 2 YP, wherein the or each X is a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom and the or each Y is a C 1 -C 8  alkyl group, a C 2 -C 8  alkoxy group or a phenyl group) and a compound which is a C 1 -C 12  aliphatic monohydric alcohol, a C 1 -C 12  aliphatic polyhydric alcohol, a C 4 -C 8  dialkyl ether or an epoxide derived from a C 2 -C 12  olefin, the components of such combination being capable of forming esters of oxyacids of phosphorus or compounds containing a P-O-C linkage, with the provisos that, if component (II) comprises a compound which contains two or three R<SP>11</SP> groups, at least one R<SP>11</SP> group is not a hydrogen atom and that, if component (II) comprises a combination of a phosphorus compound and a dialkyl ether, the phosphorus compound is an oxide of phosphorus. The components (I) and (II) may be reacted at a temperature of from ambient temperature to 400‹ C., in the absence or presence of solvent, under an atmosphere which may be air but which preferably is inert, for example nitrogen, argon or carbon dioxide; the resulting reaction product may be purified and/or aged at ambient or elevated temperature prior to use and may be used in the form of a solid or of a solution. Polymerization may be effected in the presence of a promoter which is a compound having a formula selected from R<SP>1111</SP> p AlX<SP>1</SP> 3-p , Q 2 Z n  and Q 2 Mg wherein p is 1, 2 or 3, the or each R<SP>1111</SP> is a C 1 -C 8  alkyl group or a phenyl group, each Q is a C 1 -C 4  alkyl group or a phenyl group and the or each X<SP>1</SP> is a halogen atom, for example a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom; if such promoter is used, it is preferred that the reaction product of components (I) and (II) does not contact the promoter in the absence of monomer to be polymerized. Polymerization may be effected continuously or in batch-wise manner, at a temperature of from -20 to 200‹ C., in the absence or presence of solvent, using reaction product of components (I) and (II) in an amount of from 0À1 to 2 weight per cent based on monomer to be polymerized and, if present, promoter in an amount of from 0À01 to 100 weight per cent based on reaction product of components (I) and (II). Numerous examples of components (I) and (II), promoters, solvents and polymerizable monomers are disclosed in the Specification. Examples relate to the homopolymerization of ethylene oxide (EO), propylene oxide (PO), 1-butene oxide, styrene oxide, allyl glycidyl ether (AGE), butyl glycidyl ether, phenyl glycidyl ether and epichlorohydrin (EPCH) and to the copolymerization of PO plus AGE; EO plus EPCH; PO plus EPCH; AGE plus EPCH; and EO plus PO plus EPCH. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,236,848.