COPOLYMERIZATION OF A POLYHYDROCARBON MACROMONOMER WITH METHYL ACRYLATE AND ACRYLONITRILE IN THE PRESENCE OF A LEWIS-ACID

The free radical copolymerization of a vinyl-terminated hydrocarbon ma cromonomer, namely poly-1-butene with molecular weight 1,000, with met hyl acrylate (MA) led to copolymers with broad molecular weight distri butions, and even bimodal character. In the presence of alkylaluminum chloride Lewis acids, higher incorporation of MA was obtained. The pol ymer MW and mole% MA in the copolymer increase with their decreasing L ewis acid strength. The best result was obtained in the presence of 25 mole% Et(2)AlCl versus MA at 60 degrees which led to 82% of the polyh ydrocarbon chains being derivatized and unimodal MW distribution. For the copolymerization of the polyhydrocarbon macromonomer and AN, the b est results were obtained without Lewis acid in toluene using a free r adical initiator at 125 degrees C. The model compound 2,2,4-trimethyl- 1-pentene copolymerizes with both MA and AN in standard free radical c onditions and the copolymerization parameters were determined.