Reversible inhibition in the formation of copolymers based on alkyl (meth)acrylates with vinyl butyl ethers under compensation of the active monomer depending on their nature when initiated by the triethylborane–oxygen system

Abstract Compensatory (or compensation) copolymerization of alkyl (meth)acrylates (AMA) with boiling vinyl butyl ether (VBE), initiated by the system of triethylborane (TEB)–oxygen, has been studied. The obtained data indicate a partial formation of copolymer macromolecules with close to an alternating structure, according to the reversible inhibition mechanism, along with a copolymer formation on the scheme of conventional bimolecular termination. Specific features of used acrylic monomers have been revealed. Copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and VBE were applied as macroinitiators for block-copolymer syntheses when adding new portions of butyl acrylate (BA).