Anionically copolymerized living random (meth)acrylic copolymers and copolymers prepared therefrom
AssigneeElf Atochem S.A.
InventorsJin-shan Wang, Philippe Bayard, Philippe Teyssie, Bruno Vuillemin, Philippe Heim
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Abstract
Living random (meth)acrylic copolymers, facilely converted into random co(meth)acrylates and block copolymers thereof, comprise the anionic copolymerizates of at least one comonomer A with at least one comonomer B selected from among the (meth)acrylates and maleimides, at least one of the comonomers A and B comprising a (meth)acrylate, in the presence of (i) at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal, mono- or difunctional initiator and (ii) at least one ligand, for example a nonnitrogenous macrocyclic complexant, e.g., a crown ether, or an alkali metal alcoholate.
Claims24
A process for the preparation of a living random (meth) acrylic copolymer having one of the formulae (Ia) or (Ib):
- P(A--co--B)!.sup..crclbar. M.sup..sym. (n Ligand) (Ia)
- M.sup..sym..crclbar. P(A--co--B)!.sup..crclbar. M.sup..sym. (2n Ligand)(Ib)
- in which "P" and "co" represent the copolymerizate of at least two base comonomers A and B selected from among methacrylic and acrylic monomers and maleimides, at least one of said comonomers A and B comprising an acrylic or methacrylic monomer;
- M is an alkali or alkaline earth metal emanating from a monofunctional or difunctional polymerization initiator, depending on whether said living random copolymer has the formula (Ia) or (Ib), respectively;
- "Ligand" is (a) a non-nitrogenous macrocyclic complexant or (b) an alkali metal alcoholate of the formulae (II) or (III):
- R.sup.1 (OR.sup.2).sub.m OM.sup.1 (II)
- M.sup.1 (OR.sup.2).sub.m OM.sup.1 (III)
- in which M.sup.1 is an alkali metal;
- R.sup.1 is a linear or branched alkyl radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an arylalkyl radical in which the alkyl moiety is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6, or an alkylaryl radical in which the alkyl moiety has from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
- R.sup.2 is a linear or branched alkylene radical having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;
- m is the integer 1, 2, or 3;
- and n is an integer ranging from 1 to 50,
- said process comprising anionically polymerizing said comonomers A and B in the presence of (i) at least one alkali or alkaline earth metal, mono- or difunctional initiator thereof and (ii) at least one Ligand which comprises (a) said non-nitrogenous macrocyclic complexant or (b) said alkali metal alcoholate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.