Synthesis and study of the oligo(ether-ester)s based on butylene oxide

Unsaturated oligo(ether-ester) was prepared by ring-opening polymerization of butylene oxide (BO) with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in the presence of cationic catalyst (BF3O)-O-center dot(C2H5)(2). The effects of mol ratio of the initial components, amount of catalyst, temperature, and reaction times on the copolymerization reaction were examined. Oligo(ether-ester) were achieved in highest yield of 82% after reaction times of 4 h at 0 degrees C. Synthesized copolymer was characterized using spectroscopic (H-1 NMR and IR) and chemical analysis methods. The thermal degradation and softing points of oligo(ether-ester)-styrene composites were studied. It is shown that crosslinking of the unsaturated oligo(ether-ester) with styrene takes place through the use of thermostable materials. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.