Polymerization of styrene oxide and butadiene monoxide by organozinc compounds

The reaction of styrene oxide with organozinc compounds was studied to clarify the polymerization mechanism of styrene oxide. In the reaction with diethylzine ring scission of styrene oxide was observed to occur almost exclusively at the CH(C6H5)O‐bond to form ethylzinc monoalkoxide. In the second step zinc dialkoxide was formed by the reaction of the ethylzinc monoalkoxide with styrene oxide and the dialkoxide was found to be active species for the polymerization of styrene oxide. In the reaction of styrene oxide with zinc dialkoxide both α‐scission and β‐scission occurred. Studies were also made for butadiene monoxide.