Employing azeotropic distillation to remove small amounts of water from a toluene solution of a low vapor pressure alcohol and potassium hydroxide, we drive the equilibrium towards the potassium alkoxide. The addition of ethylene oxide then leads directly to poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, chain grown from the alcohol. This avoids the necessity of using potassium metal or highly reactive potassium alkoxide reagents.

 

Publications

Azeotrope Enabled Polymerization of Ethylene Oxide
Bento, J. L.; Madugula, D. R.; Hire, C. C.; Adamson, D. H.
RSC Advances 2016 6:94459-94466

Stabilization of the Nitric Oxide Prodrugs and Anticancer Leads, PABA/NO and Double JS-K, through Incorporation into PEG-Rpotected Nanoparticles
Kumar, V.; Hong, S. Y.; Maciag, A. E.; Saavedra, J. E.; Adamson, D. H.; Prud’homme, R. K.; Keefer, K. L.; Shakrapani, H.
Molecular Pharmaceutics 2010 7:291-298