Copolymerization of 3,4‐dimethyltetrahydrofuran with cyclic ethers

Abstract The copolymerization of 3,4‐dimethyltetrahydrofuran with selected cyclic ethers was studied. Although 3,4‐dimethyltetrahydrofuran did not homopolymerize, it readily copolymerized with propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin in an alternating fashion using the cationic initiator PF5. The reactivity ratios r1 and r2 for the copolymerization of 3, 4‐dimethyltetrahydrofuran and epichlorohydrin were r1 = 0.22 ± 0.05 and r2 = 0.11 ± 0.01, respectively.