Anionic polymerization and copolymerization of 1-cyanobutadiene

✍ Scribed by R. Worley; R.N. Young

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1972
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 250 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-3057
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-3057(72)90023-7

✦ Synopsis

A stereospecific synthesis of trans-l-cyanobutadiene is described. This monomer was polymerized by n-butyl lithium in toluene and in tetrahydrofuran to yield sparingly soluble products. In both solvents, the concatenation was predominatly trans-l,4with a little eis-l,4 and 3,4 content.

Copolymers with methyl methacrylate and methyl pentadienoate were prepared in the same way: the reactivity ratios differed markedly in the two solvents being more nearly ideal in tetrahydrofuran.

THE EMULSION polymerization of 1-cyanobuta-l,3-diene was formerly of some industrial importance giving an oil-resistant elastomer. Unfortunately, this method of polymerization does not permit any control of the stereochemistry; consequently the more tractable poly-chloroprenes and nitrile rubbers displaced this polymer from the commercial scene. Recently, interest has been revived by a report that anionic polymerization results nearly exclusively in trans-l,4 enchainment, o)