The polymerization of acrylonitrile by tetraaziridotitanium(IV)

The polymerization of acrylonitrile by tetraaziridotitanium(IV) is very much more rapid than the same reaction initiated by tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium(IV). The former reaction has dead-end kinetics but both can be fitted with the same kinetic scheme. Polymerization is accompanied by initiator wastage via unidentified reactions. Insertion of saturated nitriles into the Ti? N bonds of tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium can be monitored by NMR and gives products with high activity for the polymerization of acrylonitrile. Despite their high reactivity towards acrylonitrile none of the initiators will polymerize less reactive monomers.