GB839885A - Polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

Ethylenically unsaturated compounds are polymerized using as catalyst the reaction mixture formed from at least one salt of hyponitrous acid and at least one organic carboxylic acid halide. Specified salts are those of silver, lead, copper, potassium, lithium and thallium, and of the many acid halides disclosed those preferred are acetyl and 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl chlorides. Monomers listed are ethylene, propylene, styrene, halogenated styrenes, butadiene, isoprene, vinyl acetate, vinyl benzoate, vinyl and vinylidine chlorides, fluoroethylenes, methyl acrylate and methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl phthalimide, vinyl carbazole, diallyl and dimethallyl fumarates and oxalates, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate and various esters of maleic, fumaric and itaconic acids. Inert reaction media may be used in the preparation of the catalyst and in the polymerization, e.g. light petroleum, benzene or diethyl oxalate, or the polymerization may be in bulk, and optionally continuous. If desired, the catalyst may be formed in situ, or one component may be added during the polymerization. When polymerizing ethylene, chain transfer agents (such as hydrogen, carbon tetrachloride or chloroform) may be present. High density, substantially linear polymers may be obtained. The examples also describe the p purification of the products. Specification 839,884 is referred to.