THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF COMPETING REAC TIONS IN A POLYSTYRYLLITHIUM METHYL ACETATE SYSTEM

The subject discussed in this paper is the mechanism of interaction of polystyryllithium chains of various lengths with methyl acetate (MA) in benzene at room temperature. According to the data of exclusion HPL C, the maximum content of polystyrene with doubled molecular mass at a [MA] to [M(n)Li] ratio of 0.5 is 80%, which is explained by the aceta l form in which MA is involved in the reaction, and which terminates t he ''living'' chains. The contribution of side reactions varies depend ing on the nature of the substituent at the alpha-carbon atom of the t erminal unit. The suggested mechanism of interaction is confirmed by q uantum chemical calculations of the model reaction.