SYNTHESIS AND REACTIVITY OF METAL-CONTAINING MONOMERS .28. LOW-TEMPERATURE RADICAL POLYMERIZATION OF ZINC, BARIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND LEAD ACRYLATES UNDER THE ACTION OF ORGANOCOBALT INITIATORS

The polymerization of diacrylates of the nontransition metals Mg, Zn, Ba, and Pb, which proceeds at low temperatures (5-10-degrees-C) with t he complexes of alkylcobalts with tridentate Shiff bases (RCo) as init iators, was studied. The radical mechanism of the process was proved w ith the aid of free radical scavengers. The polymerization kinetics is given by the equation W(n) = k [M] . [RCo]0.75. The influence of the nature of the metal in the monomer and the alkyl ligand in the initiat or on the polymerization process was discussed. Low temperatures promo te the formation of polymers with high molecular weights and a predomi nantly syndiotactic structure. The effect of the steric hindrances ari sing during polymerization due to the formation of a three-dimensional cross-linked structure in the metal-containing polymer on the microst ructure of polymer chain and on polymerization kinetics was considered .