1. Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Stoffe und Faserchemie, Institut für Polymerchemie, Universit?t Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, D‐70569 Stuttgart, Germany;2. Institut für Textilchemie und Chemiefasern (ITCF) Denkendorf, K?rschtalstr. 26, D‐73770 Denkendorf, Germany
Abstract:
The cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization of acrylonitrile in DMSO using cobalt (II) acetylacetonate Co(acac)2] as mediator is studied. Both the evolution of molecular weight and conversion over time under various conditions are monitored. Molecular weights increase sharply at the beginning of the reaction and subsequently grow linearly with conversion. No branching of the polymer is observed by 13C NMR. By a careful design of the reaction parameters, number‐average molecular weights >1.2 · 105 g · mol?1 with a PDI around 2.4 together with conversions of up to 90% within 24 h are achieved. The copolymerization parameters of acrylonitrile with methyl methacrylate in DMSO at 30 °C are determined using the Kelen‐Tüdõs approach giving rAN = 0.33, rMMA = 0.71.
