Metal‐containing initiator systems. XII. Vinyl polymerization by pentacyanobenzylcobaltate(III) and by the binary systems of pentacyanocobaltate(II) and organic halides

Abstract

AbstractPentacyanobenzylcobaltate(III) acts as an effective initiator for the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene, acrylonitrile, and vinyl acetate, and the initiating radical is assumed to be the benzyl radical produced from homolysis of the Carbon‐cobalt bond. The binary systems of pentacyanocobaltate(II) and some organic halides were also found to serve as initiators for the MMA polymerization. The initiating activity of these systems increased with decreasing dissociation energy of the carbon‐halogen bond in the halides. The polymerization of MMA and styrene by pentacyanobenzylcobaltate(III) was accelerated in the presence of benzyl bromide.