| Abstract: | The polymerization of β-propiolactone (βPL) by sodium acetate catalyst has been investigated. The polymerization behavior with monomer purified with calcium chloride was found to be a little different from that previously reported for this monomer. That is, poly-β-propiolactone (PβPL) obtained from βPL dried with CaCl2 has a higher degree of polymerization than that obtained from conventionally treated βPL, and its infrared spectrum shows type II configuration, which differs from that reported in previous papers. Some chain transfer reaction is observed even for the polymerization of the CaCl2–dried βPL; however, this is less important in toluene. The electronegativity of the anion or cation in catalyst greatly influences the rate of polymerization. |
