Initiating Polymerization of Glycol Methacrylate with Cyclic Diketo Carbon Acids

Abstract

Several pharmacologically active cyclic diketone carbon acids, including phenylbutazone and 2-phenyl-1,3-indandione, catalyze the polymerization of glycol methacrylate momomers. GMA-cyclic diketone carbon acid monomer mixtures incorporating imidazole polymerize smoothly without obvious exothermicity at temperatures ranging from ambient to -5 C without the use of ultraviolet light. The only equipment required for this embedding technique is a refrigerator with a freezing compartment which can maintain temperatures of -15 C. A recipe consisting of 5 ml glycol methacrylate (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), 0.8 ml 1-pentanol, 16 mg imidazole, and 30 mg monophenylbutazone is recommended for general use. The use of dicyclopentyl methacrylate-glycol methacrylate comonomer mixtures incorporating cyclic ketone catalysts is advocated, as blends of these monomers have low basophilia, and tissues embedded in these matrices stain sharply and brilliantly. It is hypothesized that the driving force for the cyclic ketone-mediated polymerization of glycol methacrylate under basic conditions is furnished by the lysis of cyclic ketone carbon acid peroxides.