EFFECT OF TERTIARY DIAMINES ON ANIONIC-POLYMERIZATION OF POLAR VINYL MONOMERS

Tertiary diamines that exhibit chelating capability to lithium are sho wn to decrease the reactivity of growing species when used in classica l anionic polymerization of methacrylic monomers. Out of the different diamines investigated, sparteine turns out to be the most efficient c helating agent. The beneficial effect of the latter additives on the o verall reactivity of methacrylic anions was exploited to prepare poly( MMA) samples of controlled size at room temperature. The decrease in r eactivity was also demonstrated from a kinetic point of view, upon mea suring the actual rate constant of propagation using vinyl pyridine as model monomer.