BIFUNCTIONAL INITIATORS .2. BULK-POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE INITIATED BY 4,4'-AZOBIS(4-CYANOPENTANOYL)-BIS(ALPHA-METHYLOLBENZOIN METHYL-ETHER)

Azo-benzoin initiators are useful for the synthesis of polymers with photoactive end groups. The kinetics of the bulk polymerization of styrene initiated by 4,4'-azobis-(4-cyanopentanoyl)bis(alpha-methylolbenzoin methyl ether) (ABME) was investigated. On the basis of kinetic parameters, it was found that azo-benzoin initiators exhibit initiator properties similar to that of common azo initiators. A relatively high chain transfer constant of the initiator (C(I)) may be attributed to the presence of alpha-methylolbenzoin methyl ether groups in the structure.