Anionic polymerization of β‐nitrostyrenes

Abstract

AbstractThe rate of polymerization of β‐nitrostyrene initiated by sodium alkoxide was setudied gravimetrically. The rate was found to be first order with respect to monomer concentration and first order with respect to initiator concentration. Rate constants in the order of 0,25 dm3 · mol−1 · s−1 were obtained at 15°C, 20°C, and 25°C for the polymerization of β‐nitrostyrene, p‐methoxy‐β‐nitrostyrene, and p‐methyl‐β‐nitrostyrene initiated by sodium methoxide and by sodium ethoxide. The activation energy of polymerizations initiated by sodium methoxide and by sodium ethoxide was ∼24 kJ · mol−1 and ∼ 16 kJ · mol−1, respectively. The number average degree of polymerization of poly(β‐nitrostyrene)s was determined by polymerization of the monomer in the pressence of 14C‐alkanol. This is the first time that accurate number average molar masses of poly(β‐nitrostyrene)s have been reported since conventional methods of molar mass determination cannot be used owing to the insolubility of these polymers in most common organic solvents.