Controlled radical copolymerization of styrene and tert-butyl acrylate in the presence of tri-n-butylborane–p-quinone catalytic system

Abstract

Radical copolymerization of styrene with tert-butyl acrylate is studied under different conditions. It is found that the addition of tri-n-butylborane or tri-n-butylborane along with p-quinones (2,3-dimethylbenzoquinone, 2,5-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone) results in changes in the relative activities of monomers. Copolymerization in the presence of tri-n-butylborane and p-quinones proceeds via the mechanism of reversible inhibition and is characterized by the linear increase in number-average molecular weight with conversion and by the capacity of copolymers of reinitiation. The hydrolyzed copolymer samples form more stable films compared to copolymers prepared via conventional radical copolymerization.