Acrylate polymerizations catalyzed by Lewis pairs (LP) composed of B(C6F5)3 and various Lewis bases were investigated using two procedures based on different monomer/catalyst addition sequences. When Lewis bases were added to B(C6F5)3-activated n-butyl acrylate (nBA) (procedure 1), the polymerization proceeded quantitatively using all Lewis bases. In contrast, the type of Lewis base significantly affected the polymerization results when nBA was added to interacting LPs (procedure 2). 19F nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the LPs indicated that weakly interacting LPs efficiently initiated the polymerizations in procedure 2.
- Yuka Naganawa
- Kazumasa Mori
- Masato Suzuki