Methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate oligomerization initiated by radicals generated via low-temperature treatment with molecular chlorine

Abstract

By means of liquid chromatography, UV spectroscopy, calorimetry, and elemental analysis, it has been shown that the radicals generated spontaneously during low-temperature (77 K) mixing of the methyl acrylate (MA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomers with molecular chlorine initiate the MA and/or MMA oligomerization reaction. The oligomerization and chlorination reactions occur as the mixtures prepared at 77 K are heated, having the reaction onset temperature below the chlorine melting point (170 K) and a maximal rate in the MA premelting region (180–190 K) for the MA-Cl2 mixture or the MMA melting range (220–230 K) for the MMA-Cl2 mixture.