Monomers as ion pairs monomer salts

An interesting possibility of development in ionic polymerizations was described by Salamone et al. [307, 308], An ion pair is formed from a pair of suitable monomers, probably by way of a donor-acceptor complex as intermediate. Both the cationic and the anionic components of the pair can polymerize individually 

Each vinyl particle acts as a counter-ion of the vinyl particle of opposite charge. These salts may be regarded as ionic active centres with a polymerizable counter-ion. 

The authors have described the preparation of three salts of this type  

4-viny pyridine with vinylsulphonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulphonic acid and p-styrenesulphonic acid 

Detailed data on this type of initiation are not yet available. The published idea is a stimulating challenge deserving additional investigation. 

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