Charge-transfer polymerization of butyl methacrylate

Butyl methacrylate (BuMA) can be polymerized by charge-transfer complexes formed by the interaction of ethanolamine (EA), BuMA, and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in a non-aqueous solvent, such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The rate of polymerizationR _p is found to be linear with BuMA] and proportional to both CCl₄]^0.5 and EA]^0.5 when CCl₄]/EA]≤1.R _p becomes independent of CCl₄] when CCl₄]/EA]>1.R _p is proportional to EA]^0.56 and to BuMA]^1.30 when CCl₄]>EA]. The average rate constant at 30°C for the polymerization of BuMA in terms of monomer was 3.32×10⁻⁶ s⁻¹ when CCl₄]/EA]≤1, and 5.47×10⁻⁶ L/(mol s) when CCl₄]/EA]>1.