CATIONIC OLIGOMERIZATION OF METHYLSTYRENES - EFFECTS OF THE METHYL-GROUP AND CATALYSTS ON PRODUCT DISTRIBUTIONS

In the cationic oligomerization of o-, m-, and p-methylstyrenes, effects of reaction conditions and of the position of the methyl group on the molecular weight distribution and the structure of the products were elucidated. In the oligomerization with oxo acids in C6H6, dimer was the main product, whereas higher oligomers were formed in (CH2C1)2. On the other hand, metal halides yielded higher oligomers in both solvents, and the molecular weight distribution hardly depended on solvent polarity. Only the unsaturated dimer was formed by oxo acids in CgHe, whereas that produced by oxo acids in (CH2C1)2 and metal halides in both solvents yielded cyclic as well as unsaturated end groups. In general, the methylstyrenes gave higher oligomers than styrene. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.