| abstract |
New Cobalt(II) nitrilomethylidyne dipyrrole complexes such as Cobalt(II) 2,2'-[trimethylenebis(nitrilomethylidyne)]-dipyrrole, Cobalt(II) 2,2'-[o-phenylenebis(nitrilomethylidyne)]-dipyrrole and their basic ligand complexes are effective catalysts for molecular weight control in acrylate/methacrylate polymerization. The process comprises polymerizing monomers, especially including methacrylic monomer or methacrylic/acrylic monomer, in the presence of azo initiator and between 0.0001% and 0.01% of Cobalt(II) 2,2'-[trimethylenebis(nitrilomethylidyne)]-dipyrrole and/or Cobalt(II) 2,2'-[o-phenylenebis(nitrilomethylidyne)]-dipyrrole complexes to produce low molecular weight acrylate polymers and copolymers. |