Free radical polymerization of unconjugated dienes III. N‐allylacrylamide in methanol

The free radical polymerization of N‐allylacrylamide at 60°C. in methanol solution is described. The experimental data show that both, the acrylic and the allylic double bonds of the monomer take part in the intermolecular and intramolecular (cyclization) chain propagation steps. In particular it is shown that the allylic double bond has a greater tendency to participate in cyclization reactions than the acrylic one. These results agree with earlier observations on the free radical polymerization of N‐allymethacrylamide in methanol solution at 60°C. The relative reactivities of the acrylic and the allylic double bonds in N‐allylacrylamide are close to those expected on the basis of copolymerization data for only acrylic and only allylic monomers.