Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by oligoglycine, water, cupric ion, and carbon tetrachloride

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in the presence of oligoglycines (glycine, its dimer, trimer, tetramer, etc.), water, cupric ions, and carbon tetrachloride. It was found that poly‐MMA is formed in the water layer and that the system using triglycine gives the maximum polymer yield. On the effect of pH of water layer, the rate of polymerization is faster in the alkalic condition (pH 8–10) than in normal condition (pH 3.8), while in the acidic media (pH 2–3), the rate is not accelerated. From the results of kinetic studies, the polymerization rate is dependent on the 0.5 power of the amount of diglycine or cupric ion, and it is independent of the amount of MMA. The polymerization mechanism was discussed.