EFFECT OF FE(III) ON THE POLYMERIZATION OF BUTYL METHACRYLATE INITIATED BY A CHARGE-TRANSFER MECHANISM

The effect of the Lewis acid, iron(III) tris(oxalato)ferrate(III) tetrahydrate (Fe-[Fe(C2O4)3].4H2O) (A) on the polymerization of butyl methacrylate (BuMA) initiated by a charge-transfer mechanism has been studied in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 60-degrees-C. 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) was used as a nitrogen donor compound to initiate the polymerization in the presence of carbon tetrabromide (CBr4). Induction periods are observed for the polymerization initiated by DNPH and CBr4. The rate constant at 60-degrees-C for the polymerization of BuMA in the presence of A is 1.70 X 10(5) L/ mol s-1. The molecular weight of polymers decreases with the increase of [A]. A probable reaction mechanism is proposed to explain the observed results.