Studies on the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate with butyllithium by using perdeuterated monomer

Summary Methyl methacrylate-d₈ was polymerized by C₄H₉Li in toluene at –78°C and the resultant polymer and oligomer were studied for butyl group by ¹H NMR spectroscopy according to the precision coaxial tubing method (HATADA 1977a). A polymer and an oligomer molecule was found to have about one butyl group incorporated through the attack of C₄H₉Li on the carbonyl group as well as one terminal butyl group. The total amount of the C₄H₉Li residue introduced in both the polymer and oligomer molecules was measured to be 0.45mmol and almost corresponded to the amount of the C₄H₉Li used (0.50mmol).