ALTERNATING COPOLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE AND METHYL ALPHA-CHLOROACRYLATE WITH DIETHYLALUMINUM CHLORIDE

In the reported study, the alternating copolymerization of styrene and methyl alpha -chloroacrylate (MCA) with diethylaluminum chloride (Et//2AlCl) in benzene at 0 degree C has been investigated. The copolymer has an equimolar composition irrespective of the feed monomer composition, the copolymer yield and the amount of Et//2AlCl used. The copolymerization proceeds first very rapidly and then rather slowly after attaining a certain yield which varies proportionally to the amount of Et//2AlCl used. A maximum copolymer yield is observed at about 60% MCA feed composition. The **1H-NMR analyses of dyad, triad, and pentad of the alternating deuterated alpha -d-St-MCA copolymer indicate that the configuration of this copolymer can be explained by a single parameter, coisotacticity sigma ( sigma equals 0. 69). A favorable mechanism of the alternating propagation as well as of the stereoregularity control is discussed.