The synthesis and characterization of 2-mercaptoethyl methacrylate

Abstract

The synthesis of 2-mercaptoethyl methacrylate from methacrylic acid and 2-mercaptoethanol by etherification using acetyl chloride as catalyst was optimized. The purity of the obtained product was controlled by gas chromatography and its identity confirmed by H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. 2-Mercapto-ethyl methacrylate could find application as a chain transfer agent in radical polymerizations.

Keywords

• 2-mercaptoethyl methacrylate
• chain transfer agent
• synthesis
• characterization