Polymerization of methyl methacrylate by charge-transfer complex using n-butyl amine and carbon tetrachloride in dimethylsulphoxide

Abstract

The charge-transfer complex formed by the interaction of an aliphatic amine, such as n-butylamine ( nBA), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) initiates polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) at 30°. The rate of polymerization is given by R p = k[MMA] 0.83 [ nBA] 0.5 [CCl 4] 0.5 when [CCl 4]/[ nBA] is ⩽ 1. When [CCl 4]/[ nBA] > 1, R p is independent of [CCl 4] and R p = k[MMA] 1.46 [ nBA] 0.5. The average rate constants are (1.42 ± 0.05) × 10 −6 1 mol −1 sec −1 in terms of MMA and (2.20 ± 0.06) × 10 −6 sec −1 at 30° for higher and lower concentration of carbon tetrachloride respectively. A charge-transfer mechanism for polymerization is suggested.