BLOCK COPOLYMERS BY COMBINATION OF CATIONIC AND RADICAL ROUTES .5. POLYMERIZATION OF STYRENE INITIATED BY 4,4'-AZOBIS(4-CYANOPENTANOYL CHLORIDE)

The kinetics of the polymerization of styrene initiated by 4,4′-azobis(4-cyanopentanoyl chloride) (ACPC) was investigated in bulk and in benzene solution at 60°C. It was found that the overall rate of polymerization is proportional to the 0.48 power of the initiator concentration. The chain transfer-to-initiator and chain transfer-to-solvent constants were estimated to be CI = 0.41 and CS = 1.9 × 10-4, respectively. Polymerization of styrene initiated by ACPC yields polystyrene with an acyl chloride terminal group at each end. Polymerization of tetrahydrofuran initiated by acyl chloride-terminated polystyrene in conjunction with AgSbF6 provided the formation of a block copolymer. © 1990.