| Abstract: | The effect of mercaptides on the butyllithium-initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate in toluene were investigated. The rates of polymerization were decreased by the addition of mercaptides, possibly owing to the formation of a relatively stabilized complex between the mercaptides and the active center of the polymerizing monomer. The stereoregularity was also affected by the addition of mercaptides. The effects increased in the order of increase in the bulk of the alkyl group of the mercaptides: n-propyl < isopropyl < tert-butyl < phenyl. The effects of mercaptides on the stereoregularity were larger than those of the analogous oxygen compounds. The concentrations of butyllithium and monomer had no effect on the stereoregularity. |
