Copolymers with periodic comonomer sequences

Abstract

The free radical copolymerization and multipolymerization of olefins with acrylic monomers in the presence of acids has been studied. It was found that Bronsted acids are as suitable complexing agents for the acrylic comonomer as the up to now exclusively used Lewis acids. The effectiveness of the Bronsted acids, e.g. carboxylic acids, for obtaining alternating copolymers increased with the pKs value, and trifluoroacetic acid turned out to be the acid of choice. The variation of the Lewis acid-type complexation agents was extended by the zinc chloride diethylether complex which is advantageous over ZnCl 2 or other Lewis acids because of its good solubility and recycling practically, which is also a feature of the Bronsted acids