Model copolymerization reactions. Initiation of the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile by 1,1′-azobis(1-phenyl[1-13C]ethane)

✍ Scribed by Douglas A. Cywar; David A. Tirrell

• Book ID: 103075529
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1989
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 434 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0014-3057
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-3057(89)90025-6

✦ Synopsis

The copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acrylonitrile (A) was initiated by photolysis of 1,1'-azobis(l-phenyl[13C]ethane) (1) at 33°C in benzene. Determination of relative endgroup concentrations in the resulting copolymers allowed determination of the relative rates of addition of MMA and A to the 1-phenylethyl radical derived from 1. We find k~M ^/k A = 0.44 + 0.03, a value consistent with known copolymerization behavior. Further analysis of 75 MHz ~3C NMR spectra led to the determination of kMuA/k A for the 2-(4-phenylpentanenitrile) radical derived from primary radical addition to A. The measured value of kuM A/k A supports only one of five reported studies of the radical copolymerization behavior of MMA and A.