The initiation mechanism of polymerization by the system AlEt3/H2O

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The reaction between H2O and triethylaluminum Al(Et3) as well as the initiation mechanism of the polymerization by the system AlEt3/H2O have been examined by means of tritiated water, Considerable amount of tritium from tritiated water remained in the system AlEt3/H2O prepared at room temperature. Heat treatment of the system causes both the extensive decrease of tritium content and loss of catalyst activity. Polymers of styrene and isobutyl vinyl ether prepared by the system AlEt3/H2O were found to be radioactive. These findings have been taken to assume that acid hydrogen does exist in the system AlEt3/H2O and is directly responsible for the initiation of cationic polymerization.