Vinyl acetate is characterized by having an activated double bond. While being an acceptably stable material under normal ambient storage, it is readily attacked by a free radical. This simple addition gives another free radical, and the addition of a series of monomer units results in a polymer chain. Thus
CH2=CH—C—CH, + • S07 ^ CH2—CH—C — CH,
II I II
О SO4 о
Vinyl acetate monomer
+ CH2=CH—c — CH3
о
CH2—CH — C — CH3 — CH2 — CH—CH2 — CH • etc. SO4 О SO4 c = o c = o
CH3 CH3