Effect of lewis and Brønsted acids on the homopolymerization of acrylates and their copolymerization with 1-alkenes

The first copolymerization of acrylate and methacrylate with nonpolar 1-alkenes in the presence of Brønsted acids as complexation agents has been reported. The addition of both homogeneous and heterogeneous Brønsted acids resulted in increased monomer conversion and 1-alkene incorporation. Further, the heterogeneous Brønsted acids can be recycled without loss of activity. A direct correlation exists between the ability of the Lewis or Brønsted acid to bind to the ester group of the acrylate/methacrylate monomer and its ability to promote the copolymerization reaction. For Lewis acids, there is also a direct correlation between the charge/size ratio at the metal center and their ability to promote copolymerizations.