ABSTRACT
Polyethers are those polymers containing ether (C-O-C) linkages in the chain backbone. Such polymers are quite numerous. They are derived from a wide variety of monomers, by many different synthetic routes. Polyethers find utility in diverse applications either directly or as chemical intermediates [1]. Of necessity this chapter deals with a limited subset of the total polyether realm. Only those polyethers derived from oxirane (also referred to as ethylene oxide and EO), methyloxirane (propylene oxide and PO), and ethyloxirane (1,2–butylene oxide and BO) will be discussed. Structures of these monomers are shown in Fig. 1. As a class these monomers are called oxiranes, alkylene oxides, AOs, or simply oxides. Oxiranes of interest. A) Ethylene oxide. B) Propylene oxide. C) 1,2–Butylene oxide. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203745656/da788dd6-bfbd-4ab5-b41e-b1c68882e4bc/content/fig1_1.tif"/>
