Anionic polymerization of t-butyl methacrylate using a new type of bifunctional initiator

Abstract

The living character of the anionic polymerization of t-butyl methacrylate (BMA) using 2,3-diphenylbutadienemagnesium (DPB-Mg) as a bifunctional initiator was investigated by varying the polymerization conditions. Anionic polymerization of BMA at both −78 and −45°C involved no transfer reaction and the molecular weight distribution of poly(t-butyl methacrylate) was very narrow ( M ̄ w M ̄ n = 1.20 ). However, the polymerization at 0°C involved a small amount of side reaction, i.e. attack of the living ends of the ester molecules. The structure of the DPB-Mg complex was characterized by spectroscopic analysis and quantitative titration of Mg metal.