Abstract
In this study, cationic polymerization of p-methylstyrene (p-MeSt) was studied in ionic liquid (IL) reaction media. The effects of ILs on p-MeSt cationic polymerization were analyzed through density functional theory (DFT) and experimental method. The influences of various initiating systems on p-MeSt cationic polymerization were investigated, and the efficiencies of various ILs as reaction solvents were discussed. The structure of the polymerization product was characterized through H-1-NMR and FTIR characterization analyses; number-average molecular weight (M-n) and molecular weight distribution were measured through gel permeation chromatography (GPC); a temperature recorder tracked the relationship between polymerization system temperature variation and reaction time. The results showed that a CumOH(2-phenyl-2-propanol)/BF3 center dot OEt2 initiating system is relatively effective in IL media over those frequently used in cationic polymerization reactions. The products polymerized in 1-butyl-3-methylimida