Synthesis of polymethylmethacrylate by using triphenybis-muthoniumylide : Kinetics & mechanism

Abstract

The polymerization of methylmethacrylate initiated by triphenyl- bismuthonium 1,2,3,4-tetraphenylcyclopentadienylide in benzene follows ideal radical kinetics. The activation energy (<i>E</i>_a) and <i>k</i>²<i> </i>_p<i>/k</i>_t<i> </i>values were 76 KJ mol^-1 and 1.06×10^-1 L mol^-1s^-1, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy and qualitative analysis shows that the little amount of bismuth has trapped in polymer matrix. The presence of 6 hyperfine lines in E.S.R. spectrum indicate that the system follows free radical polymerization and the initiation is brought about by phenyl radical.