Vinyl Chloride-Vinylidene Chloride Copolymerization in Strong Donor Solvents: A New Interpretation of Structural Defects

Penultimate effects detected on the vinylidene chloride-ended radical in the vinylidene chloride-vinyl chloride copolymers prepared in thtrahydrofuran had previously been interpreted in terms of head-to-head addition. But new 1H-NMR analysis of the homopolymers and copolymers synthesized in proton-donor and inert solvents suggest these effects, giving abnormal structures, might be due to the proton-transfer reactions, particularly in strong proton-donor solvents. Chain transfer reactions have been found degradative, so the overall polymerization rate is drastically decreased.