Sonochemical polymerization of benzene derivatives: the site of the reaction

Sonochemical polymerization of benzene and halogen-substituted benzenes has been studied. The difference of absorption spectra of polymerization products can be explained qualitatively using bond energies of the primary products. The relative rate constant of the polymerization reaction is apparently proportional to the inverse of the vapour pressure of the liquids. Using this relation, we analysed the relative rate constant of the polymerization in benzene/chrolobenzene mixtures. From this, we conclude that sonochemical polymerization proceeds in the vapour phase of a bubble. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.