HETEROCYCLIC YLIDE-INITIATED POLYMERIZATION OF METHYL ACRYLATE

beta -Picolinium-p-chlorophenacylide initiates radical polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) up to 19. 5% conversion without gelation due to autoacceleration. The average rate of polymerization (R//p) increases as left bracket ylide right bracket is raised from 1. 02 to 3. 06 mmol/L, the order of reaction being 0. 5 plus or minus 0. 02. However, at higher concentrations ( greater than 3. 06 mmol/L), R//p decreases. The monomer exponent is 1. 40 when benzene is used as diluent. The overall energy of activation is computed to be 28. 8 kJ/mol. A polar solvent like dimethylsulfoxide and a radical scavenger like hydroquinone retard the reaction.