Catalytic inhibition of the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate

Abstract

In the polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of chain transfer catalysts, i.e. cobalt complexes of macroheterocyclic compounds of the tetramethyl ester of hematoporphyrin (CoPo) and phthalocyanine (CoPh) and a CoPh + quinoline mixture polymerization retardation is observed, which increases in the series CoPo < CoPh < CoPh + quinoline. Not all the additives are used up, and the unused material can be separated unchanged at the end of the process. The stoichiometric inhibition factor determined from the kinetic data is much greater than 2, and in the case of the CoPh + quinoline system exceed 10 2. Chain termination catalysis on the cobalt complexes of the macroheterocyclic compounds is the most likely retardation mechanism.