Head additon of radicals to methyl methacrylate

Abstract

Contrary to a recent report, radicals produced from benzoyl peroxide and diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate react with methyl methacrylate mainly by addition to the less substituted end of the double bond (tail addition). Benzoyloxy radicals do give head addition, but only to a small extent relative to tail addition (ratio 5:66). With both initiators hydrogen abstraction from monomer is only a minor process (≤1%). These results were obtained by analysis of the products formed when radicals are trapped by nitroxides. © 1982 Springer-Verlag.