Anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide with cryptates as counterions: 2

A kinetic study of the anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide has been made in tetrahydrofuran at 20°C, with the cryptate Cs⁺ + TC] as counterion, TC] being a spheroidal macrotricyclic ligand. Conductance measurements have been made on THF solutions of ?₄BCs + TC]. Ionic associations higher than cryptated ion pairs are negligible for living end concentrations lower than 3 × 10^?4 moll^?1. k_± and the alkoxide ion pair dissociation constant K_D were determined from both sets of kinetic data obtained with and without added salt knowing the value of k_? from kinetic data performed with K⁺ + 222] as counterion. Free alkoxide ions are about twenty times more reactive than cryptated caesium ion pairs.