Anionic polymerization of (meth)acrylic monomers. 12. Efect of lithium chloride on the stereochemistry on the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in THF and in a 9/1 toluene/THF mixture

The effect of LiCl on the stereochemistry of the anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of a lithium counterion at -78-degrees-C in THF and in a 9/1 toluene/THF mixture, has been studied by C-13 and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. It has been found that LiCl has an important effect on the E/Z ratio of the living chain ends in THF, in contrast to the main-chain tacticity. In contrast, LiCl has a significant influence on the stereoregularity of the anionic polymerization of MMA in a 9/1 toluene/THF mixture. When the LiCl/initiator molar ratio is increased, the syndiotactic placements (rr) are favored at the expense of the isotactic ones (mm). This effect can be accounted for by a multistate propagating mechanism controlled by association/complexation equilibria among associated, nonassociated, and LiCl-complexed species. These association/complexation equilbria, which were originally proposed by Muller, appear to have a decisive effect not only on the livingness (molecular weight distribution (MWD)) but also on the stereochemistry of the anionic polymerization of MMA in a 9/1 toluene/THF mixture at -78-degrees-C, confirming the involvement of the ligand in propagation control.