Polymerization of allylamines in the presence of protonic acids

Abstract The polymerization of allylamine and dimethylallylamine has been studied in the presence of phosphoric acid. It has been shown that the polymerization product is a high molecular polymer. A kinetic scheme is put forward for the process, features of which are the participation of the monomer in the initiation stage and the linear annihilation of allyl radicals and their ability to renew the kinetic chain. It has been shown that the principal factor responsible for the increase in polymerization rate in the system allylamine-H 3 PO 4 is the essential suppression of degradation chain transfer both as a result of a decrease in the removal of the α-hydrogen atom and also because of the ability of the complexed allyl radicals involved in chain transfer to link to the double bond of the monomer.