The Polymerization of Methacrylonitrile. Polymethacrylonitrile

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Abstract
As the starting point for the preparation of methaerylonitrile, acetonecyanohydrin (α-hydroxybutyronitrile) was chosen because of its ready availability. β-Hydroxybutyronitrile should likewise be well suited for the purpose, but, because of the difficulties involved in its preparation, it was not utilized in the work. The removal of water can be accomplished in various ways. (1) Phosphorus pentoxide does not give such smooth results as it does with ethyleneeyanohydrin, but the reaction can be carried out successfully by centrifuging and the addition of quinoline. Under the same conditions acetaldehydeeyanohydrine (lactonitrile) yields no acrylonitrile. (2) The thermal decomposition of acylated hydroxy-acid derivatives can be applied to acetonecyanohydrin, but this method of preparation is difficult to carry out on a laboratory scale. (3) Removal of water can be carried out very smoothly with thionyl chloride. In addition to methacrylonitrile, α-chloroisobutyronitrile is formed, and from the latter more methacrylonitrile can be obtained by scission of hydrogen chloride. In this procedure, it is highly important to use pure raw materials, especially thionyl chloride, for with pure compounds the yields are higher. It is likewise advantageous to use a slight excess of thionyl chloride.

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