Specific polymerization of vinylpyridinium salts. Polymerization on macromolecular “matrices”

Abstract 4‐Vinylpyridinium salts could be spontaneously polymerized in organic and water media by unusual ionic mechanism. The growing active species were characterized with high chemical specificity. The growing chain end being intramolecular ionic pair (zwitterion) was able to add only the molecules of monomeric vinylpyridinium salt and does not react with other vinyl monomers, including vinylpyridine. The reaction described was used for polymerization of 4‐vinylpyridine on macromolecules of polystyrene sulfonic acid in water and in organic solvent. The chains of strong polyacid were operating as activating “matrices,” which adsorbed, neutralized, and polymerized strictly stoichiometric amount of monomer molecules. The morphology of polymerization products was studied with electron microscopy.