Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a commercially important polyether, and can be synt
ID: 1070196 • Letter: P
Question
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a commercially important polyether, and can be synthesized by polymerization of ethylene glycol using either acidic or basic catalysts: Is this an example of chain-growth or step growth polymerization ? Briefly explain your answer. Can the polyethylene glycol polymer act as Lewis acid, Lewis base, or as both a Lewis acid and Lewis base. Briefly explain your answer. You are asked to design a process for a new polyether petroleum additive. The structure of an available monomer and the desired polymer are given below: If you were to use similar chemistry to that used in the polymerization of ethylene glycol, which catalyst would you prefer to use for the polymerization reaction: acidic, basic or neither ? Briefly explain your answer.Explanation / Answer
(i) It is the step growth polymerisation.
Because ethylene glycol molecues can be added together by the loss of a water molecule, a condensation reaction takes place step wise.
(II) Hope it has neither property.
(iii) We prefer to use acidic catalyst to prepare this poly ether. Because the phenolic group on benzene ring has acidic nature. So if we use a basic catalyst it may react with this phenolic group and disturb the polymerisation reaction.