Ring-opening polymerization of 1,3-benzoxazines via borane catalyst

Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane was used as Lewis acid catalyst to lower the ring opening polymerization temperature (ROP) of 1,3-benzoxazines. Dynamic scanning calorimeter studies revealed that on-set ROP temperatures were decreased as much as 98 °C for model benzoxazine compounds. Catalytic polymerization was traced by both FTIR and ¹H NMR, and revealed that tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane acted rapidly and fast curing achieved. Moreover, thermal properties of resulting polybenzoxazines were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and found out that the catalyst has high impact on char yield and even 3 mol % catalyst augmented char yields up to 13%.