Influence of Pyrogallol Chelate Complex of Copper(II) on Potassium Monopersulphate Decomposition and Acrylonitrile Polymerisation in Solution

Macromolecular Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Ravenshaw College, Cuttack-753 003 Manuscript received 20 December 1985, revised 2 April 1987, accepted 11 August 1987 The catalytic influence of various Cull salts and CuII/phenols couples on potassium monopersulphate decomposition and vinyl polymerisation of acrylonitrile have been investigated in aqueous medium From the knowledge of the comparative rate data, CuSO4 ⁄Pyrogallol couple has been chosen for the datailed study of the kinetics of acrylonitrile polymerisation The polvmerisation has been studied at various concentra­tions of reacting components and over the temperature range 35 —50°. The rate of polymerisation has been found to be, Rp-K[CuII] 0.2 [PY]o.3.4 [KHSO5] 1.1[A]1.0 From the kinetic results and the spectrophotometrical measurements, the catalytic efficiency of CuII/pyrogallol couple on the course of KHSO5 decomposition and acrylo­nitrile polymerisation has been examined