The versatile, functional polyether, polyepichlorohydrin: History, synthesis, and applications

Abstract

Polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) is a functional polyether first synthesized in the 1950's by the catalytic ring opening polymerization of epichlorohydrin (ECH), its inexpensive epoxide pre-cursor. PECH elastomers are used in diverse commercial applications due to their unique combination of properties including low temperature flexibility and heat and oil resistance. PECH holds an interesting place in polymer history as its synthesis led to the discovery of highly effective aluminum-based catalysts for epoxide polymerizations and a new class of high molecular weight polyether elastomers by an exceptional polymer chemist, Edwin J. Vandenberg. ECH is an ideal feedstock for polymer materials as it is functional, inexpensive, and produced through environmentally friendly means. However, due to the alkyl chloride pendant, polymerizations involving ECH are difficult and limited synthetic advancement has occurred until very recently. This focused review will discuss modern polymerization methods involving ECH while giving a historical perspective on the evolution of these techniques. We will also review applications of ECH-based polymers and discuss the future development of these materials. We hope to convince the reader to explore ECH-based materials in their own work.