Radical copolymerization of sulfur dioxide and chloroprene

Abstract

AbstractThe radical copolymerization of sulfur dioxide and chloroprene (CP) in benzene was carried out, especially as a function of the total monomer concentration ([SO2] + [CP]). The composition of chloroprene polysulfones varies mainly with total monomer concentration and with polymerization temperature, but depends very slightly on feed composition. The microstructure of chloroprene units in chloroprene polysulfone was such that the trans‐1,4 unit was predominantly over the cis‐1,4 unit. Thus it would seem possible to rule out both radical copolymerization mechanisms, i.e., propagation of separate monomers as explained by the Lewis‐Mayo equation, and propagation processes involving a monomer charge‐transfer complex.