Stereospecific polymerization of benzyl alpha-(methoxymethyl) acrylate

A novel monomer, benzyl alpha-(methoxymethyl)acrylates (BMMA), was synthesized, and its reactivity and the stereoregularity of obtained polymers in radical and anionic polymerizations were investigated. The anionic polymerization of BMMA by lithium reagents provided a polymer with a high isotacticity regardless of the polarity of the solvent. The strong intra- and intermolecular coordination powers of the polar groups of a growing polymer chain end and BMMA mohomer to the countercation (Li+) may be the main factor in controlling the stereochemistry in the polymerization.