ALTERNATING COPOLYMERIZATION OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE AND EPICHLOROHYDRIN BY Pr (naph)_3-Al (i-Bu)_3 CATALYST

Alternating copolymerization of maleic anhydride(MA) with epichiorohydrin(ECH) was investigated by using Pr(naph)3-Al(i-Bu)3 as catalyst, which was found to bea good catalyst for the alternating copolymerization of MA with ECH. The structure ofcopolymer product was characterized by IR and NMR. Kinetic study indicates that thecopolymerization reaction is first order with respect to both monomer and catalystconcentration. △E =102 kJ/mol.