The effect of various factors on block copolymerization of nitrile monomers with vinyltrialkyl(aryl) silanes

Abstract

A study has been made of the polymerization of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile by “living” polyvinyltrimethyl(phenyl)silane chains with lithium as the counter ion, in a hydrocarbon medium. It is shown the extent to which the original polyvinyltriorganosilane chains take part in formation of block copolymer increases as the concentration of initiator and nitrile monomer is increased. The efficiency of the macro-initiator is dependent also on its structure and on the nature of the polar monomer. It increases on passing from polyvinyltrimethylsilane to polyvinylphenyldimethylsilane “living” chains and from methacrylonitrile to acrylonitrile.