Stereospecific group transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate with lewis-acid catalysis - Formation of highly syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate)

Formation of highly syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) through the stereospecific group transfer polymerization of methyl methacrylate with Lewis-Acid catalysis was investigated. Methyl methacrylate was purified by fractional distillation under reduced nitrogen pressure, dried over calcium CaH2 and vacuum distilled just before use. Polymerization was initiated by adding a solution of initiator in CH2Cl2 to a stirred mixture of monomer, aluminum phenoxide, cocatasysts, and CH 2Cl2 under a dry nitrogen atmosphere. The high MW part showed different solubility from the low MW part, while the whole polymer was soluble in CHCl3, the high MW part was insoluble in acetone. The highly syndiotactic PMMA was also insolated more easily by solvent fractionation with acetone and toluene according to the distinct difference in solubility as compared with the low MW fraction.