929Heteropolyacidsnew efficient initiators of cationic polym e r i z a t i o n a ) Dedicated to Professor Paul Rempp on the occasion of his 60th birthday
SUMMARYWe have found, that heteropolyacids (HPA) are efficient initiators of cationic polymerizations, including polymerizations of cyclic ethers and acetals, providing high-molecular-weight polymers. In several systems (e g. THF, 1,3dioxolane) the degree of polymerization is given by the ratio of concentrations of monomer and initiator, as for the living system. In the polymerization of cyclic formaldehyde trimer: 1,3,5-trioxane, the comparable polymerization rates may be obtained with 25 times less an initiator consumption on weight basis (= lo3 times less on molar basis) than for typical initiators like BF, . OR,.