Remarkable solvent effects of oxygen- and sulfur-containing compounds on the propagation rate of methyl methacrylate

Simon Harrisson, Christopher Barner-Kowollik, Thomas P. Davis, Richard Evans, Ezio Rizzardo, Martina Stenzel, Ming Yin

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11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The propagation kinetics of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of a number of oxygen- and sulfur-containing compounds have been investigated. Solvents used were 2-methyl-1,3-dioxepane (MDOP), 2,6-dithiaheptane (DTHP) and 1,5-dithiacyclooctane (DTCO). In the presence of DTHP and DTCO, the propagation rate coefficient, kp, of MMA was found to be 25% to 100% higher compared to bulk polymerisations under the same conditions. The significant increase of kp was explained by electron donation from the sulfur-containing solvents, which increased the reactivity of the macroradicals. MDOP had no observable effect on kp. The solvent influence on polymer tacticity was also studied using both 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. No significant influence of the solvent on polymer tacticity was found.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)267-281
Number of pages15
JournalZeitschrift fur Physikalische Chemie
Volume219
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Apr 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Free Radical Polymerization
  • Propagation Rate Coefficients
  • Solvent Effects

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