Synthesis and anionic polymerization of the fluorine-substituted phenyl methacrylates are herein reported.A series of mono-,di-,and multi-substituted fluorophenyl methacrylates H2C=C(CH3)C(O)OC6H4F-4(M1a),H2C=C(CH3)C(O)OC6H4F-3(M1b),H2C=C(CH3)C(O)OC6H3F2-2,4(M2),H2C=C(CH3)C(O)OC6H2F3-2,3,4(M3),H2C=C(CH3)C(O)OC6HF4-2,3,5,6(M4),and H2C=C(CH3)C(O)OC6F5(M5)were synthesized and characterized.Initially,the polymerization was carried out on the monomer M1a by using n Bu Li,t Bu Li,and KH as the respective catalysts;this approach produced the polymers in yields of12%–50%,but with lower molecular weights.Similar results were obtained by using t Bu Li for catalytically polymerizing the other five monomers.By introducing a co-catalyst Me Al(BHT)2,the catalysts Na H,Li H,and t Bu OLi each were tested to polymerize M1a,which gave the polymers in very low yields(3%–7%).Polymer yields of 13%–27%were obtained by each of the catalysts Li Al H4,n Bu Li,Ph Li,and t Bu Li in connection with Me Al(BHT)2,but a better yield(61%)was achieved with KH/Me Al(BHT)2.The KH/Me Al(BHT)2 catalyst system was further employed to polymerize M1b and M2,which afforded respective polymer yields of 12%–63%and 10%–53%,depending on the molar ratios of KH:Me Al(BHT)2 as well as on the monomer concentrations.All of the polymers produced were syndiotactically rich in structure,as indicated by either 1H or 19F NMR data.The polymerization mechanism by the combined catalyst system is proposed. Synthesis and anionic polymerization of the fluorine-substituted phenyl methacrylates are disclosed. A series of mono-, di-, and multi-substituted fluorophenyl methacrylates H2C = C (CH3) C (O) OC6H4F-4 (M1a) H2C = C (CH3) C (O) OC6H3F2-2,4 (M2), H2C = C (CH3) C (O) OC6H2F3-2,3,4 (M2) (M3), H2C = C (CH3) C (O) OC6HF4-2,3,5,6 (M4), and H2C = C (CH3) C (O) OC6F5 (M5) were synthesized and characterized. polymerization was carried out on the monomer M1a by using n Bu Li, t Bu Li, and KH as the respective catalysts; this approach produced the polymers in yields of 12% -50%, but with lower molecular weights.Similar results were obtained by using t Bu Li for catalytically polymerizing the other five monomers. By introducing a co-catalyst Me Al (BHT) 2, the catalysts Na H, Li H, and t Bu OLi each were tested to polymerize M1a, which gave the polymers in very low yields 3% to 7%. Polymer yields of 13% to 27% were obtained by each of the catalysts Li Al H4, n Bu Li, Ph Li, and t Bu Li in connection with Me Al (BH The KH / Me Al (BHT) 2 catalyst system was further employed to polymerize M1b and M2, which afforded respective polymer yields of (THT) 2, but a better yield (61% 12% -63% and 10% -53%, depending on the molar ratios of KH: Me Al (BHT) 2 as well as on the monomer concentration. All of the polymers produced were syndiotactically rich in structure, as indicated by either 1H or 19F NMR data. The polymerization mechanism by the combined catalyst system is proposed.