The role of monomer in the chain transfer reaction in cobaloxime-mediated free-radical polymerization

The role of monomer in catalytic chain transfer polymerization was studied by determination of the chain transfer constants of the tetraphenyl derivative of cobaloxime boron fluoride (COPhBF) in methyl methacrylate at 60 degrees C varying the monomer concentration instead of the COPhBF concentration as is common practice. Toluene and tert-butyl acetate were used as diluents in these studies and it was found that the chain transfer constants obtained in the present studies were not significantly different from those observed in conventional experiments. These results suggest the absence of a direct participation of monomer molecules in the hydrogen abstraction step in catalytic chain transfer.