Maghnite, a Green Catalyst for Cationic Polymerization of Vinylic and Cyclic Monomers

Abstract Maghnite‐H is a nontoxic catalyst for cationic polymerization of vinylic and heterocyclic monomers. This catalyst is issued from the proton exchange of Algerian montmorillonite clay. One application of this catalyst is to produce polydioxolane derivatives. The polymerization of 1,3‐dioxolane catalyzed by Maghnite‐H; (Mag‐H), was investigated. The cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 1,3‐dioxolane was initiated by Mag‐H at different temperatures (20, 30, 50, and 70 °C) in bulk and in a solvent (dichloromethane). The effects of the amount of Mag‐H and the temperature were studied. The polymerization rate and the average molecular weights increased with an increase in the temperature and the proportion of the catalyst. These results indicated the cationic nature of the polymerization and suggested that the polymerization was initiated by proton addition to the monomer from Mag‐H. Moreover, we used a simple method, in one step in bulk and in solution at room temperature (20 °C), to prepare a telechelic bismacromonomer: bis‐unsaturated poly(1,3‐dioxolane).