POLYMERIZATION OF METHYL METHACRYLATE CHIRAL LIGANDS

Methyl methacrylate was anionically polymerized in the presence of chiral ligands, e. g. (+)-DDB and (-)-Sp. The polymers thus formed were optically inactive due to the instability of the helical chain for the less bulky ester group. Isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) was given when (+)-DDB was used, whereas, a syndiotactic polymer was formed in the presence of (-)-Sp. Accordingly, two different propagation mechanisms were postulated.