Polymerization of β-Propiolactone


On treatment with catalytic base (RO(–)), β-propiolactone (structure on the right) polymerizes to a colorless flexible solid. Write a plausible structure for this polymer, indicating the chain residues at either end by asterisks. (e.g. *-ABAB-*)
To draw a formula use the drawing window on the left below. Do not try to draw hydrogen atoms. Draw two, and only two, repeating units of the polymer, and designate the terminal (chain extension) bonds by asterisks. To enter an asterisk choose the X symbol in the left column and change the H that appears in the small window to *. When you are finished, check iyour answer by pressing the Check Answer button. A help screen is available for the drawing window.

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This script written by William Reusch, Dept. of Chemistry, Michigan State University. Please send comments and corrections to whreusch@pilot.msu.edu.
JME Molecular Editor v2002.05 by: by Peter Ertl