SYNTHESIS OF FUNCTIONAL UNSATURATED POLYESTER BY USING RARE-EARTH CATALYSTS .1. COPOLYMERIZATION OF EPICHLOROHYDRIN WITH MALEIC-ANHYDRIDE IN THE PRESENCE OF Y(P507)3-AL(I-BU)3

Ring-opening copolymerization of epichlorohydrin(ECH) with maleic anhydride(MAn) was catalyzed by yttrium phosphonate in combination with triisobutylaluminum for the first time to give almost alternate copolymer, functional polyester. The yield and composition of the copolymer were affected by the reaction conditions, especially the initial monomer charge ratio. The overall activation energy of the copolymerization was estimated to be 19.0Kcal/mol. Evidence for the structure of ECH-MAn copolymer prepared was obtained by IR and H-1-NMR.