Alkali salts of (ω-sulphoxyalkyl)-acrylates and -methacrylates: Radical polymerization and copolymerization

A new preparation of alkali salts of (ω-sulphoxyalkyl)-acrylates and -methacrylates, by reaction of alkali salts of acrylic and methacrylic acids with cyclic sulphates, is described; spectral characterization of the products is described. The kinetics of the radical polymerization of sodium (2-sulphoxyethyl)methacrylate (SSEM) were studied; monomer reactivity ratios for copolymerization with methacrylic acid were: r₁ = 1.1 ± 0.15 and r₂ = 0.73 ± 0.05. Dark electrical surface conductivity of some homopolymers and copolymers with methacrylic acid was found to be 10⁴–10¹¹$\text{Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$, depending on relative humidity.