Preparation and Hydrolysis of Poly(2-Benzoyloxyethyl Vinyl Ether) with a Narrow Molecular Weight Distribution

2-Benzoyloxyethy vinyl ether (BOEVE) was cationically polymerized with the hydrogen iodide/zinc iodide (HI/ZnI_2) initiating system in toluene at -15℃ to form a narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD). The poly(BOEVE) obtained had a narrow MWD (M_w/M_n<1.2,M_w : weight-average molecular weight, M_n : number-average molecular weight). The M_n of the poly(BOEVE) increased directly in proportion to the BOEVE conversion and to the reciprocal of the initial HI concentration, that is, the reaction was found to be a living polymerization. The hydrolysis rate of the polymer in the alkaline dioxane-water system decreased with increase in the M_n of the polymer.