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21.13 : Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the generated carbocation, thereby producing a dimer that acts as a new carbocation. The propagation step repeats itself and builds the polymer chain. In the termination step, the propagating chain gets terminated either by adding a base that deprotonates the carbocation and forms a new π bond or by the attack of a nucleophile on the carbocation, where the nucleophile adds to the cationic end of the chain.

Tags
Cationic PolymerizationInitiationPropagationTerminationLewis Acid CatalystBoron TrifluorideCarbocationElectron donating GroupNucleophilePolymer Chain

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21.13 : Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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21.1 : Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers

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21.2 : Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

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21.3 : Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

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21.4 : Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

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21.5 : Polymer Classification: Architecture

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21.6 : Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

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21.7 : Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

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21.8 : Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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21.9 : Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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21.10 : Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching

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21.11 : Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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21.12 : Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

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21.14 : Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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21.15 : Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview

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