Synthesis and reactivity of metal-containing monomers.

The polymerization of diacrylates of the nontransition metals Mg, Zn, Ba, and Pb, which proceeds at low temperatures (5-10°C) with the complexes of alkylcobalts with tridentate Shiff bases (RCo) as initiators, was studied. The radical mechanism of the process was proved with the aid of free radical scavengers. The polymerization kinetics is given by the equation W = k [M] · [RCo]. The influence of the nature of the metal in the monomer and the alkyl ligand in the initiator on the polymerization process was discussed. Low temperatures promote the formation of polymers with high molecular weights and a predominantly syndiotactic structure. The effect of the steric hindrances arising during polymerization due to the formation of a three-dimensional cross-linked structure in the metal-containing polymer on the microstructure of polymer chain and on polymerization kinetics was considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]