6533b7d2fe1ef96bd125f770

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Mechanism of Anionic Polymerization of (Meth)acrylates in the Presence of Aluminum Alkyls, 6. Polymerization of Primary and Tertiary Acrylates

Bardo SchmittAxel H. E. MüllerHelmut Schlaad

subject

AcrylatePolymers and PlasticsOrganic ChemistrySolution polymerizationTolueneInorganic Chemistrychemistry.chemical_compoundMonomerAnionic addition polymerizationPolymerizationchemistryPolymer chemistryMaterials ChemistryMolar mass distributionLewis acids and bases

description

The kinetics of the polymerization of n-butyl acrylate initiated by lithiated ester enolates in the presence of aluminum alkyls was investigated in toluene and in toluene/Lewis base mixed solvents at −78 °C. In pure toluene, curved time−conversion plots, incomplete monomer conversion, and broad molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn ≈ 2) are observedin the absence of aluminum alkyls the molecular weight distributions are significantly broader (Mw/Mn > 14). High monomer conversions and narrower molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn ≈ 1.5) are obtained when using Lewis bases (e.g., methyl pivalate) as cosolvents. The polymerization of tert-butyl acrylate rapidly reaches full monomer conversion with rather broad molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn ≈ 2); the addition of a Lewis base, however, does not have a pronounced effect on these values.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
1998-03-01Macromolecules
https://doi.org/10.1021/ma971582g