Radical Polymerisation of Methylacrylate Initiation by the Azidoadamantane / Copper Bromide System

Summary

A new initiating system, azidoadamantane/CuBr, for the radical polymerisation of methylacrylate was found. Polymerisations occur as well at 50°C in toluene solution as in bulk at 70°C. A kinetic study seems to show a monomer consumption of first order in monomer concentration. However, despite a polydispersity index lower than 2, the value and the constancy of Mn during the whole polymerisation time gave an indication of a non controlled polymerisation. This is assumed to be due to the double role played by the azide function: strong complexing agent for copper ions and radical initiatior for the polymerisation, so that the presence of an additional ligand, i.e. bipyridine, is not necessary.