SYNTHESES AND POLYMERIZATION OF α-TRIMETHYLSILYL ACRYLIC MONOMERS

Abstract
α-Trimethylsilyl acrylic acid and its methyl ester were prepared in good yield starting from 1,2-dibromoethyltrimethylsilane. These monomers were polymerized with difficulty by free radicals to viscous polymers, but gave solid copolymers with styrene. The methyl ester was also a weak monomer in anionic polymerization. This non-reactivity is due to the steric effect of the α-trimethylsilyl group adjacent to the double bond.