Absolute reactivity in the cationic polymerization of methyl and other alkyl vinyl ethers

The cationic polymerizations of methyl-, 2-chloroethyl-, ethyl-, cyclohexyl- and t-butyl- vinyl ethers initiated by cycloheptatrienyl hexachloroantimonate in methylene chloride solutions have been studied in detail. Reaction rates were measured by an adiabatic calorimetric technique and rate constants for propagation of each of the monomers, k_p (obs), were determined by appropriate kinetic analysis of the experimental curves. The results obtained are discussed in terms of current theories regarding ion pair/free ion equilibria in non-aqueous solvents. Although ethyl-, cyclohexyl- and t-butyl- vinyl ethers behave very similarly to isobutyl vinyl ether, and their reactivities are comparable k_p (obs) ～ 3 × 10³M^?1sec^?1 at 0°C] both methyl- and 2-chloroethyl- vinyl ethers show markedly different characteristics to the others, and in particular exhibit a reactivity approximately one order of magnitude less k_p (obs) ～ 2 × 10²M^?1sec^?1 at 0°C]. These variations in reactivity are discussed in terms of preferred monomer conformations, and the resulting differences in activation energy which are likely to arise when such conformers are approached by an electrophile.