END-CAPPING REACTION OF TRIFLUORO-METHANESULFONIC ANHYDRIDE-INITIATED LIVING POLY(TETRAHYDROFURAN) WITH LITHIUM OR SODIUM SALT OF METHYL p-HYDROXYBENZOATE: IDENTIFICATION OF SIDE PRODUCTS AND SYNTHESIS OF BENZOIC ACID-TERMINATED TELECHELIC...

In order to synthesize telechelic poly(tetrahydrofuran) [poly(THF)] with benzoic acid terminal groups (9), the reaction of bifunctional living cationic poly(THF) initiated by trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride with lithium or sodium salt of methyl p-hydroxybenzoate was performed in THF solvent at 0°C. The product was found to be the mixture of telechelic poly(THF) with the benzoate ends (8) and oligomers with the same benzoate moieties (10 and 11). Alkaline hydrolysis of the mixture of the polymer and the oligomers and the subsequent treatment of the hydrolyzed products with water enabled us to recover the telechelic poly(THF) with benzoic acid ends (9) without contamination by any oligomeric products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]