Radical polymerization of monoethyl itaconate

The radical polymerization of monoethyl itaconate (MEI) was investigated in bulk and in solution at 60°C using a,a'-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. It was established that the obtained polymer poly(monoethyl itaconate) was insoluble in its monomer, implying that the bulk polymerization of MEI was a precipitation polymerization. The polymerization kinetics of MEI were discussed and compared to the polymerization kinetics of structurally similar alkyl itaconates. The homogeneous radical polymerization of MEI in tetrahydrofuran was not possible in the whole range of monomer/solvent concentration ratios, while the polymerization of MEI in methanol was homogeneous. The chain transfer constants to THF and methanol at 60°C were determined