Living polymerization of N,N-diphenylacrylamide with triisobutylaluminum

Abstract

N,N-Diphenylacrylamide was polymerized in a living fashion with triisobutylaluminum in THF at 0 degrees C. The polymerization results showed an increase of molecular weight proportional to the amount of monomer consumed and a first-order kinetics at -78 degrees C. The intermediates obtained with excess initiator at -78 degrees C revealed that the polymerization was initiated through 1,4-addition of hydride from a triisobutyl group in the triisobutyl aluminum and then proceeded through aluminum-oxygen bond interchange.