The anionic polymerization and copolymerization of butyl and benzyl ma
lolactonates initiated with potassium acetate/dibenzo-18-crown-6 or [2
22] complex have been studied at 40 degrees C in bulk and in dichlorom
ethane and tetrahydrofuran solutions. Kinetics and polymer molecular w
eights were followed by SEC. In bulk and for conversion below 30%, mol
ecular weights are close to those calculated for a living process then
the conversion increase leads to a significant discrepancy between th
eoretical and measured molecular weights. In solution, side reactions
take place significantly and no evident relationship between molecular
weight and initiator concentration can be established, even at low co
nversion. Same situation was observed in the case of block copolymers
synthesis. At last, evidence for transfer reactions has been shown by
using model reactions.