Peculiarities of radical homo- and copolymerization of acrylic, methacrylic and itaconic acids in complexing solutions

Abstract

Using the method of IR spectroscopy a study was made of complexation in the systems of acrylic, methacrylic and itaconic acids–dimethyl sulphoxide–water. Quantitative assessment was done on the number of acid molecules entering the H-bonds with DMSO using different amounts of water in the systems. Calculations were performed on the parameters of electron structure of itaconic acid, establishing higher acidity of the α-carboxylic group. Reactivity of methacrylic acid in different complexes was assessed according to the redistribution of electron density in monomer molecules and in acid radicals during complexation. Copolymerization of acrylic, methacrylic and itaconic acids with acrylo- and methacrylonitriles in solutions of dimethyl sulphoxide-water was investigated as well. Peculiarities and differences of copolymerization of itaconic acid and monocarboxylic acids in binary solvents are thoroughly discussed here. © 1986, The Society of Polymer Science, Japan. All rights reserved.