ANIONIC-POLYMERIZATION OF (METH)ACRYLATES IN THE PRESENCE OF TETRAALKYLAMMONIUM HALIDE-TRIALKYL ALUMINUM COMPLEXES IN TOLUENE, 1 - KINETIC INVESTIGATIONS WITH METHYL-METHACRYLATE

The anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in toluene in the pr esence of tetraalkylammonium-trialkylaluminum 1:2-complexes, NR4+[Al2R 'X-6](-), has living and controlled character up to -20 degrees C. Qua ntitative monomer conversions are usually reached within a few minutes . The resulting polymers have narrow molecular weight distributions (1 .05 < (M) over bar w/(M) over bar(n), < 1.20) and are highly syndiotac tic (rr approximate to 0.75). Kinetic studies show that the mechanism of the polymerization is rather complex, implying an equilibrium betwe en three active species of different reactivities.