Brian L. Goodall

Synthesis and characterization of aldehyde-capped polyisobutylenes

SummaryThe synthesis and characterization of linear mono- and ditelechelic polyisobutylenes (PIBs) carrying terminal primary aldehyde groups are described. The synthesis starts by chlorine terminated PIBs (PIB−Cl and Cl−PIB−Cl) prepared by inifering or living carbocationic polymerization. These starting materials were dehydrochlorinated to vinylidene (∼CH2−C(CH3)=CH2) terminated PIBs and hydroformylated with CO/H2 in the presence of a rhodium catalyst. According to NMR (500 MHz) and GPC analyses, the transformations are selective and demonstrably quantitative. The structures of these novel polymers are: I view of the rich chemistry of the aldehyde group, these materials are valuable intermediates.