Anionic polymerization of tertiary aminostyrenes and characterization of the polymers

Abstract

The polymers of three tertiary aminostyrenes: Poly(N, N-dimethyl-4-vinylphenylamine), abbreviated as PPA; poly(N, N-dimethyl-4-vinylbenzylamine), PBA; and poly-(N, N-dimethyl-4-vinylphenethylamine), PPTA, were prepared via anionic polymerization in THF at −78°C. GPC measurement was carried out to estimate the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions (MWD) of the polymers. A mixture of THF and N-methylpyrrolidine (2 v/v%) was used as carrier solvent to avoid the adsorption of the polymers on the surface of the GPC gels. When n-butyllithium was used as an initiator, 100% polymer conversion was attained. The values of Mw/Mn were more than 1.20. The Mn was equal to Mk, calculated from the amounts of monomers and initiators. No polymer having narrow MWD was obtained, even when N-methylpyrrolidine was used as an additive. On the other hand, when cumyl potassium and cumyl cesium were used as initiators, polymers having narrow MWD were produced. The values of Mw/Mn were less than 1.08. The apparent rate constant of polymerization of cumyl cesium for PPA was small, compared with those for PBA and PPTA. © 1988 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan.