Dimethylamidotitanium compounds as polymerization initiators for vinyl monomers

Amide derivatives of titanium initiate the polymerization of styrene, methyl methacrylate, and acrylonitrile in a variety of solvents over the temperature range of −76° to 60°C. The polymerization mechanism with the same catalyst can be either free radical or anionic. Anionic polymerization is favored by low temperatures, solvents of high dielectric constant, and monomers containing electron‐withdrawing groups. The strength and type of catalysis changes regularly in any given series of titanium derivatives, (e.g. Ti(NMe2)xCl4‐x as X goes from 4 to 1).