Telomerization of acrylic acid with thioglycolic acid Effect of the solvent on the CT value

Summary

The telomerization of acrylic acid (AA) with thioglycolic acid (TGA) initiated with 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was first investigated in organic medium (THF, 65°C). The kinetic study of this telomerization led to the determination of the TGA transfer constant (C_T= 3,2). Then, the same study was performed both in aqueous medium and in water / THF mixtures. From these works it is emphasised that the nature of the solvent plays an important role on the transfer constant. Thus, the value of C_T decreased from C_T= 3,2 in THF to 0,5 in water. By this way, the "ideal" case of telomerization (C_T= 1) was reached for a mixture of solvents: water / THF (80%, 20%, v/v).