Polymerization of methyl methacrylate with a new rare-earth coordination catalyst

Methyl methacrylate was polymerized in toluene with a new rare-earth cataly st composed of rare-earth 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate, di-n-butylmagnesium, an d N, N, N', N'-tetramethylethylene diamine. The influence of the catalyst c omponents and reaction conditions on polymerization has been examined in de tail. The results showed that the rare-earth catalyst has a high activity a nd can prepare poly(methyl methacrylate) with a high molecular weight at a low temperature (-18 degrees C). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.