An efficient initiator system containing AlCl3 and supported ionic-liquid for the synthesis of conventional grade polyisobutylene in mild conditions

Ionic liquid based systems are used to facilitate the cationic polymerization of isobutylene conventional grade polyisobutylene (PIB) using AlCl3 as an initiator. Specifically, compound 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (IL) is employed a reference system due its simplicity, well polyionic (PIL), prepared via radical 1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium chloride, and halloysite clay (Hal) supported ionic (S-IL). The overall results stated that designed AlCl3/S-IL initiator can be safer greener alternative industrially BF3 system, in development polymerizations under mild reaction conditions PIB for viscosity improvement applications. microstructure final properties as-synthesized was unraveled compared Indopole 2100, commercial PIB. DFT calculations were performed understand different performance IL PIL with respect S-IL also show why catalyst loading latter lower, how each three sequesters AlCl3. Since interaction non-covalent or ionic, addition NBO charges, NCI plots used.