Copolymerization of styrene and diethyl fumarate with zinc bromide. III. Electroinitiation at low current densities

Abstract

synopsisThe electroinitiated preparation of equimolar copolymers of styrene and diethyl fumarate is described. The reaction medium consisted of these monomers dissolved in a methanol-zinc bromide solution. Rates of polymerization increased with increasing applied current and the copolymer yield increased linearly with the total number of Faradays transferred. The copolymer composition is 1: 1 and is essentially invariant with the degree of conversion (<15%), electroinitiation rate, and monomer feed ratios. A reaction mechanism involving donor-acceptor complexes and electroinitiated excitation of these complexes a t the electrode is postulated. 3267