Solvent effects on radical polymerization of cyclododecyl acrylate, 1. Homopolymerization

The radical homopolymerization of cyclododecyl acrylate at 60°C in benzene, tetrahydrofuran, or dioxane was studied and compared with that of cyclohexyl acrylate. The difference in the polymerization rates of the acrylates could not be interpreted in terms of the polar and steric substituent constants of ester groups in Taft's equation. Remarkable solvent effects on the polymerization rates for both acrylates were also found in the same manner and ascribed to the polar nature of the used solvents.