VINYL POLYMERIZATION BY METAL-COMPLEXES .31. INITIATION BY CHITOSAN-COPPER(II) COMPLEX

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile can be initiated by the chitosan-copper(II) complex and its monomeric form, glucosamine-copper(II) complex, in the presence of carbon tetrachloride. The chitosan complex system was found to be more active for initiating the polymerization of methyl methacrylate than acrylonitrile at neutral pH. On the other hand, the glucosamine complex system showed no activity at neutral pH region, but had high activity at higher pH, because of the reducing endgroup of the glucosamine. Formation of the copper(II) complexes was studied by pH titration and visible spectroscopy. The relationship between complex formation and the activity for initiating the polymerization is discussed. © 1978, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.