Multiple Mechanism of NCA Polymerization: Effect of N-Acetylglycine NCA and Related Additives

Polymerization of α-aminoisobutyric acid NCA by alkaline salts of various basicity as well as amines has been investigated. The study was focused on the effect on the initial polymerization rate of additives such as N-acetylglycine NCA and some other less electrophilic additives (l-acetyl-2-pyrrolidone, 3-acetyl-2-oxazolidone, 1-acetyl-3-methylhydantoin) which are all models of the growing chain end produced by the NCA anion pathway. The acetyl endgroup was detected by 250 MHz ¹H-NMR in all the polymers of α-aminoisobutyric acid NCA obtained in the presence of l-acetyl-3-methylhydantoin and triethyl amine or sodium methoxide initiators, whereas the additives influenced variously the kinetics of polymerization according to the nature of the initiator used. The results were interpreted in the light of a multiple mechanism supposing the simultaneous presence of the initiator anion, its conjugate acid, and NCA anion for basic salt initiation. Thus, the observed effect has to be considered as the sum of an elementary acceleration due to NCA anion and of an elementary deceleration due to the initiator anion. Predominance of the pathways involving NCA anion could be shown this way. This conclusion could be extended to γ-benxyl-L-glutamate NCA which is a more reactive NCA. However, the deceleration observed with some additives led us to believe that a nonnegligible participation of initiator anion during initiation cannot be excluded.