| Abstract: | A study of vinyl polymerizations initiated with the system of dimethylaniline (DMA) and cupric [Cu(II)] nitrate has been made. This initiator system was found to induce the polymerization of vinyl monomers having an electron-attracting substituent such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and acrylonitrile, but it does not initiate the styrene and vinyl acetate polymerizations. The rate of polymerization (Rp) of MMA with this system was expressed by the following Eqs., depending upon the Cu(II) concentration used:  The apparent activation energy for this polymerization was found to be 16.5 and 14.4 kcal/mole for the above two Cu(II) concn. ranges, respectively. The polymer of MMA obtained by this system was found to contain an endgroup similar to dimethylaniline, probably a methylanilinomethyl group, from the determination of its UV spectrum. |
