Polymerization of amide group containing vinyl monomers with aluminum alkyls

Abstract

Polymerization of acrylamide monomers including N,N-diphenyl acrylamide (NDPAA), N,N-diisopropyl acrylamide (NDIPAA) and acrylamide (AA) as well as N-substituted maleimide such as N-cyclohexyl maleimide (NCHMI) and N-phenyl maleimide (NPMI) with aluminum alkyls was investigated. Polymerization of NDPAA was occurred very fast and complete within a few minutes and high molecular weight polymer was obtained with aluminum compound possessing small alkyl group such as methyl and ethyl group. Copolymerization of NDPAA and vinyl monomer such as NPMI, NCHMI or MMA, proceed the copolymers in which only a fraction of these vinyl monomer was incorporated. However, polymerization of acrylamide monomer was not successful with amuminum alkyl initiators. Polymerization of NPMI was considerably slow compared with that of NDPAA. High molecular weight polymer was obtained at 0℃ in THF with low concentration of initiator. Copolymerization of NPMI and vinyl monomers such as MMA, styrene or AA was proceeded successfully with aluminum alkyl initiators.