Polymerization and copolymerization of α-acetylaminoacrylic acid

Polymerization of alpha-acetylaminoacrylic acid was kinetically investigated in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and aqueous DMSO. The polymerization conforms to a conventional radical equation (rule of square root), independently of pH. However, the polymerization rate is greatly dependent on pH: The rate decreases with pH increasing from 1 to 6 and shows minimum value at pH = 6-7. After reaching a minimum, the rate increases slowly to a flat maximum. Copolymerization parameters r(1) = 0.53, r(2) = 0.11, Q(1) = 2.43, and e(1) = 0.89 were obtained in the copolymerization of alpha-acetylaminoacrylic acid (M-1) and styrene (M-2) in DMSO. Effect of acetylamino group on the reactivities was discussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.