Polymerization of methyl α-cyanoacrylate. Part 1.—Initiation by benzoyl peroxide

Abstract

Methyl α-cyanoacrylate has been polymerized at 60°C with dioxan as diluent, benzoyl peroxide as initiator and propane sultone to suppress anionic polymerization. Peroxide doubly labelled with carbon-14 and hydrogen-3 was used so that the relative numbers of benzoyloxy and phenyl end-groups could be determined. The monomer is comparatively unreactive towards the benzoyloxy radical so that initiation is largely by addition of phenyl radicals to molecules of monomer.