Examining the Influence of Anion Nucleophilicity on the Polymerisation Initiation Mechanism of Phenyl Glycidyl Ether

The reaction of phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate to initiate the polyetherification reaction was examined using thermal and spectral analysis techniques. The influence of the nucleophilicity of the anions on the deprotonation of the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cation determined the reaction pathway. The thermal degradation of the ionic liquid liberated the acetate ion and led, subsequently, to the deprotonation of the acidic proton in the imidazole ring. Thus, polymerisation of PGE occurred via a carbene intermediate. The more nucleophilic thiocyanate anion was not sufficiently basic to deprotonate the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium cation, and thus proceeded through direct reaction with the PGE, unless the temperature was elevated and a competing carbene mechanism ensued.