Rate-acceleration of TEMPO-mediated Polymerization of Styrene in the Presence of Various Acids

The acceleration effect of various organic acids, such as methanesulfonic acid (MSA), ethanesulfonic acid (ESA), 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic acid (SDA), diphenylacetic acid (DPAA), and rho-toluenesulfonic acid (TSA), on the rate of styrene bulk polymerization with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy (TEMPO) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO) was investigated. The addition of organic acids significantly accelerated the rate. Among these organic acids, DPAA showed an efficient rate-accelerating effect with living nature of polymerization. When DPAA was used as a rate-accelerating additive for TEMPO-mediated living free radical polymerization (LFRP), the rate of polymerization was dramatically enhanced, the linearity of reaction kinetics was successfully maintained, and the polydispersity was effectively controlled.