Kinetics of polymerization of N-methyl aniline using UV-VIS spectroscopy

The chemical oxidative polymerization of N-methyl aniline (NMA) was carried out in aqueous 0.5 M H2SO4 solution using potassium peroxodisulphate (PDS) or peroxomonosulphate (PMS) as an oxidant. The course of polymerization was followed by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The absorbances corresponding to the intermediate and the polymer were followed for different concentrations of NMA and PDS or PMS at various time intervals of polymerization. The medium was found to be homogeneous and became dark green in color during the course of polymerization. Rate of polymerization (RP) was determined for various conditions. The observed dependencies of NMA, PDS and PMS on RP were used to deduce rate equations for PDS and PMS initiated NMA polymerization. The rate constant for the formation of poly(N-methyl aniline) (PNMA) was estimated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.