Structure of Poly(vinyl acetate).

The piece of poly(vinyl acetate), or PVA for short. PVA is used in latex paints and in adhesives.

Note that the polymerization creates a chiral center in each monomer unit. The anionic polymerization allows for the formation of either configuration and both are created in a random fashion. The model does reflect this. The model of the piece of PVA shown is perhaps not all that realistic when it comes to the conformation about the C-C bonds of the alkane backbone. Those conformations all are staggered, and that is fine, but there are many other ways to be all-staggered and some of these might be better to reduce steric strain.


Figure. A molecular model of poly(vinyl acetate). Oligomerization started with hydroxide and ended with protonation.