Telomerization Reactions

Name:
Telomerization Reactions
Detailed information:
In telomerization reactions, a polymerizable unsaturated compound (the taxogen) is reacted under polymerization conditions in the presence of radical-forming catalysts or promoters with a so-called telogen. During the reaction, the telogen is split into radicals that attach to the ends of the polymerizing taxogen and in some instances add on to the double bond of the taxogen and thereby form chains whose terminal groups are formed of the radicals formed from the telogen. Organic compounds containing an olefinic double bond, such as ethylene, propylene, hexene, octene, or styrene, are normally employed as taxogens. Many different types of compounds can be employed as telogens, for example, halogenated hydrocarbons, such as chloroform or carbon tetrachloride, halogen derivatives of cyanogen, such as cyanogen chloride, aldehydes, alcohols, and the like. Radical-forming catalysts, such as organic peroxides, hydrogen peroxide, aliphatic azo compounds of the type of azoisobutyric acid nitrile, and redox systems are employed for telomerization reactions. Telomerization reactions are as a rule carried out at an elevated temperature up to 250 degrees. When volatile reactants are used, the reaction is carried out under elevated pressures, i.e., between 20 and 1000 atmospheres.