Catalytic chain transfer in polymerization of acrylamide

A catalytic chain-transfer agent based on cobalt phthalocyanine has been used in the free radical polymerization of acrylamide in aqueous acetic acid. The resulting product is an oligomeric poly(acrylamide) whose structure and average chain length has been characterized by proton NMR. This water-soluble oligomer was found to have a terminal double bond and a number-average chain length of approximately 10 to 20 units of acrylamide.