Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate in the Presence of Boroxyl Radicals. Synthesis of Block Copolymers

Abstract

The kinetics of the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate under the action of the amine–tripropylborane–oxygen system is studied at different borane : oxygen ratios in two modes: at direct contact between the polymerization mixture and oxygen and under the postpolymerization conditions, i.e., when, after brief contact, oxygen is removed from the system by vacuum pumping. It is shown that reversible-deactivation postpolymerization becomes possible when organoborane is in a twofold excess over oxygen. There were block copolymers of methyl methacrylate with styrene and acrylonitrile characterized under these conditions.