Thomas Zundel

Recent achievements in anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylates

The constant progress of the anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylates is discussed from both the fundamental and practical points of view. A special attention is paid to the improved macromolecular engineering of (meth)acrylate-based (co)polymers. The resulting most important materials and the scaling-up process needed for their production are also emphasized. The recent developments witness for the healthy state of the anionic polymerization of these polar monomers.

New initiator system for the anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylates in toluene. IV. Random copolymerization of (meth)acrylates in toluene initiated by s‐BuLi ligated by lithium silanolates

Copolymerization of binary mixtures of alkyl (meth)acrylates has been initiated in toluene by a mixed complex of lithium silanolate -(s-BuMe 2 SiOLi)- and s-BuLi (molar ratio > 21) formed in situ by reaction of s-BuLi with hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D 3 ). Fully acrylate and methacrylate copolymers, i.e., poly(methyl acrylate-co-n-butyl acrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate), poly(isobornyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate), poly(isobornyl methacrylate-co-n-butyl methacrylate) of a rather narrow molecular weight distribution have been synthesized. However, copolymerization of alkyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate pairs has completely failed, leading to the selective formation of homopoly(acrylate). As result of the isotactic stereoregulation of the alkyl methacrylate polymerization by the s-BuLi/s-BuMe 2 SiOLi initiator, highly isotactic random and block copolymers of(alkyl) methacrylates have been prepared and their thermal behavior analyzed. The structure of isotactic poly(ethyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) copolymers has been analyzed in more detail by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

The in situ formation of a new initiator system for the syndiotactic anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in toluene at 0 °C

Abstract This paper reports on an efficient ‘in-situ’ one pot synthesis of an initiatior/ligand adduct, which can be used to initiate the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in toluene at 0 °C. Predominantly syndiotactic PMMA is formed.