Published as part of the Cluster Metathesis beyond Olefins
Abstract
The origins and recent applications of acetal metathesis are discussed in the context of synthesizing polyacetals via acetal metathesis polymerization (AMP). A kinetic study of the acid-catalyzed acetal metathesis reaction suggests the rate = k [H+ ][acetal]2 , with MeOCH2 OMe and EtOCH2 OEt interchanging to yield MeOCH2 OEt, achieving the statistical 1:2:1 equilibrium distribution in 4 hours at 80 °C and in 1 hour at 90 °C. Upon heating 1,10-decanediol and diethoxymethane, polydecylene acetal is formed with sequential distillation of ethanol, followed by diethoxymethane. A full mechanism for this polymerization is proposed, which begins with a transacetalization sequence to convert the diol into a bisacetal, followed by acetal metathesis to yield a high-molecular-weight polymer.
Key words acetal - metathesis - transacetalization - polyacetal - acid catalysis - kinetic study - nucleophilicity