Olefin Polymerizations and Copolymerizations with Aluminum Alkyl-Cocatalyst Systems. IV. The Polymerization of Styrene

Abstract

The mechanism of cationic styrene polymerization with the AlEt₂Cl/RCl (R = alkyl or aryl) catalyst-cocatalyst system has been investigated. Polymerization initiation, i.e., cocatalyst efficiency, is apparently determined by the relative stability and/or concentration of the initiating carbonium ions provided by the cocatalyst RCl. Whereas n-butyl, isopropyl, and sec-butyl chlorides exhibit low cocatalyst efficiencies because of low ion concentrations, triphenyl methyl chloride is a poor cocatalyst because the stability of the derivative triphenyl methyl ion is much higher than that of the propagating styryl ion. Alkyl halides that give ions of intermediate stability are efficient cocatalysts. Isobutyl chloride and benzyl chloride seem to be exceptions and the reasons for this are discussed. A general simple scheme of the polymerization mechanism is proposed.