Question

How do you polymerize butanol and what is the polymer that is produced by this reaction?

Answer 1

Butanol cannot be polymerized; even if you converted it into butene, you'd still have problems.

Explanation:

Polyesters are formed from `alpha,omega`-diacids, and `alpha,omega`-dialcohols; polyamides from `alpha,omega`-diacids, and `alpha,omega`-diamines. You need a functional group on EACH end of the molecule in order to propagate a long organic chain.

Butene itself would be difficult to polymerize to give a poly-olefin. While polyethylene is relatively easy to make, incorporation of higher olefins into the chain has always been problematic; undoubtedly this reflects the increased steric demand of the longer chain olefin.