Synthesis of polymethylmethacrylate by using triphenybis-muthoniumylide : Kinetics & mechanism

301-306The polymerization of methylmethacrylate initiated by triphenyl- bismuthonium 1,2,3,4-tetraphenylcyclopentadienylide in benzene follows ideal radical kinetics. The activation energy (Ea) and k2 p/kt values were 76 KJ mol-1 and 1.06×10-1 L mol-1s-1, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy and qualitative analysis shows that the little amount of bismuth has trapped in polymer matrix. The presence of 6 hyperfine lines in E.S.R. spectrum indicate that the system follows free radical polymerization and the initiation is brought about by phenyl radical