Recent Advances in Anionic Synthesis of Chain-End Functionalized Elastomers Using Epoxides and Related Compounds

Abstract

Abstract Recent developments are reviewed for the applications of reactions of polymeric organolithium compounds with epoxides and oxetane to obtain the corresponding ω-hydroxy chain-end functionalized polymers. State-of-the-art characterization methods for ω-functionalized polymers are also reviewed. Investigations of the usefulness of functionalization reactions of polymeric organolithium compounds with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, 1-butene oxide, styrene oxide, oxetane, 3,4-epoxy-1-butene, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and other epoxides are described. In general, these functionalization reactions are very efficient (> 90% yields of ω-hydroxy-functionalized polymers). The use of substituted epoxides is shown to provide an efficient methodology for attachment of a variety of groups at the polymer chain end.