Hey Rhodium, why are you interested in polymerization of P2P? (btw, is it reversible?)
Because the same mechanism can probably occur with any methyl ketone, and any such polymerization is probably irreversible :(
It's an usual aldolcondensation, base and ketones is a big no no. (unles you are trying to remove methylethylketon from denaturated alcohol)
Which brings me sorta offtopic, but still..... Wouldn't one xpect an aromatic aldehyde (you know which one ;) ) to react with acetone, when a K2CO3/acetone methylation is performed?
Antoncho
Nowhere in the following PDF are there any experimental details regarding the base catalyzed aldol condesation/polymerization of P2P. I think you listed the wrong citation information in your original post.
Preparation of Ketones and their Enol Esters by the Base-catalyzed Condensation of Acids and Acid Derivatives with Anhydrides
GRANT GILL SMITH
J.A.C.S. vol. 75, pp.1134-1137 (1953)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_imgs/pdf.gif)
The condensation of phenylacetic acid with anhydrides in the presence of pyridine to produce benzyl ketones has been shown to be general for a number of aliphatic acid anhydrides, but not for aromatic acid anhydrides. Enol esters of the ketones were isolated as secondary products. Although condensation was slow with phenylacetic acid, the reaction rate was considerably increased by use of phenylacetic anhydride, phenylacetyl chloride or acids with more reactive a-hydrogens, such as fi-nitrophenylacetic acid. Under the same conditions ethyl phenylacetate and cinnamic acid did not condense.
I found it:
The Alkylation of Phenylacetones
BY EVERETT M. SCHULTZ, JOHN B. BICKING, SALLY MICKEY AND FRANK S. CROSSLEY
J.A.C.S. vol. 75, pp.1072-1074 (1953)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_imgs/pdf.gif)
The synthesis of alkylated derivatives of phenylacetone and diphenylacetone was investigated. In the presence of powdered sodium hydroxide, phenylacetone reacts with normal and selected branched-chain lower-alkyl halides to produce 1-alkyl-1-phenylacetones in good yields. 1-Alkyl-1,1-diphenylacetones have been prepared by treating 1-bromo-1-alkyl-1-phenylacetones with benzene and anhydrous aluminum chloride or, in some cases, by direct alkylation of diphenylacetone with an alkyl halide in the presence of potassium t-butoxide or sodium hydroxide.