CATALYTIC EPOXIDATION OF POLYISOBUTYLENE-CO-ISOPRENE WITH HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE

Polyisobutylene-co-isoprene (PIBI) can be epoxidized with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of methyltrioctylammonium tetrakis (diperoxotungsto) phosphate (3-) as the catalyst in a biphasic system. The effects of the reaction time and temperature, the ratio of the organic phase to the aqueous phase, the concentration of the catalyst and polymer and stirring intensity, respectively, are studied on the conversion of double bonds to oxirane groups. H-1-NMR analysis confirms the absence of ring opening side reactions in this epoxidation reaction system. The kinetics of the reaction are discussed. The rate constants are measured at four temperatures and the activation energy for the reaction is determined as 54.2 kJ/mol. The optimum reaction temperature is about 60-degrees-C.