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An anionic addition polymerization of vinyl monomers is an addition polymerization initiated by a strong base and anion, such as an alkali amide, or an organometallic compound, such as n-butyllithium. A nucleophilic carbanion is formed containing an unshared pair of electrons. Confronted with a carbon molecule with a terminal double bond, such as ethene and a wide variety of monomer vinyl compounds as styrene or acrylonitrile, a conjugate addition occurs between the terminal carbon atom of the carbanion and the first carbon atom of the C = C bond. The unshared pair of electrons moves to the other carbon atom of C = C bond. A new but longer carbanion is formed that will react likewise. A rapid chain-reaction polymerization reaction follows and a macromolecule is formed. The reaction only stops when all monomer is consumed or when another reaction occurs with an impurity or a molecule that is not part of the polymerization process. Vinyl polymers are widely used, such as synthetic elastomers, Plexiglass® and polystyrene. CH3CH2CH2CH2Li → CH3CH2CH2CH2: − Li+ n-butyllithium → n-butyl carbanion CH3CH2CH2CH2: − Li+ + CH2=CH2 → CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2: − Li+ n-butyl carbanion + ethene → n-hexyl carbanion Anionic addition polymerization is not confined to vinyl compounds. It equally occurs when 1,2-epoxyethane (commonly known as ethylene oxide) reacts with a small amount of a base, such as sodium methoxide. It turns, through polymerization , into a polyether of high molecular weight.
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