Vinyl polymerization. 276. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by 9‐diazofluorene

Abstract

Abstract By using 9‐diazofluorene (DF) as an initiator, the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in benzene solution was carried out at 75°C. The rate of polymerization was found to be proportional to the square root of the initial concentration of DF and to the initial concentration of MMA. The polymerization proceeded according to a radical mechanism. The overall activation energy for the polymerization was estimated to be 21.9 kcal·mole −1 . The rate of decomposition of DF was also measured and the following rate equation was obtained: k d = 3.17·10 14 exp (−33.8 kcal/RT) sec −1 (for 80–93°C). From these results and from the product analysis of the reaction between MMA and DF, the initiation mechanism of the polymerization is briefly discussed.