Improvements in or relating to the polymerization of acrylonitrile in dimethyl sulphoxide

摘要

Acrylonitrile or a mixture thereof with a minor proportion of one or more copolymerizable monomers is polymerized in dimethyl sulphoxide at a temperature above 45 DEG C. in the presence of from 0.1 to 0.4% of a catalyst and 0.02 to 0.4% of a regulating compound, based on the weight of monomer. Comonomers specified are methyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, vinyl methyl ether and 2-vinyl-5-ethylpyridine. Catalysts specified are ammonium and potassium persulphate, azodiisobutyronitrile sodium malonic ester and butyl lithium. Regulators specified are dodecyl mercaptan, trichlorobromomethane, diphenylsilane, dimethyl formamide, amines and polyamines.