Tetrahydrofuran polymerization catalyzed by the H3PW12O40 heteropolyacid in the presence of alcohols

Products of THF polymerization catalyzed by H 3 PW 12 O 40 heteropolyacid at 60°C in the presence of mono- and polyalcohols were studied using 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Copolymers of THF containing both internal and terminal fragments of polyalcohols were prepared in the presence of polyalcohols. Ethers of the THF homopolymers were prepared in the presence of monoalcohols, whereas polymerization in the presence of propargyl alcohol yielded a polymer with a terminal triple bond. The possibility of synthesis of copolymers of THF with organic compounds of other classes was studied. It is concluded that for copolymerization to be successful, all the compounds used as monomers must be able to react with heteropolyacid and dissolve in the catalyst phase