Polymerization of lactams, 23. Non-activated polymerization of 2-pyrrolidone initiated with potassium tert-butoxide

The non-activated polymerization of 2-pyrrolidone initiated with potassium tert-butoxide (conc. range 0,24–4,97 mole-%) was studied at 40°C. In accordance with theory, the conversion increases linearly with polymerization time and with initiator concentration. The linear dependence on conversion of the content of basic groups in the polymer and, above all, of the number of polymer molecules, and its independence on the initiator concentration up to 30% conversion indicate that a stationary state between formation and destruction of growth centres is very rapidly reached.