| Abstract: | The polymerization of 2-vinylpyridine in the presence of poly(methacrylic acid) of varying tacticity was studied in an aqueous medium. The reaction systems were heterogeneous with poly(2-vinylpyridine) and polymethacrylic acid almost exclusively in the precipitated phase. The overall rate of conversion was found to depend on the poly(methacrylic acid) tacticity only to a very little extent. The poly(2-vinylpyridine)/poly(methacrylic acid) mixture of the insoluble phase could be separated only in a strong acid medium. NMR measurements indicated the products to be predominantly syndiotactic, quite independent on the tacticity of the poly(methacrylic acid) used. |
