Kinetics of the homopolymerization of vinylferrocene in dioxane in the presence of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile

Abstract

The kinetics of the AIBN‐initiated homopolymerization of vinylferrocene in dioxane has been investigated at 60°C. The rate of polymerization was found to be dependent on the monomer concentration to a power 0.97 and on the initiator concentration to a power 0.42. The overall activation energy for polymerization over the range 50–80°C was 84 kJ/mole. Analysis of polymer molecular weight data gave the chain transfer constant to monomer C_m as 1.2 × 10⁻² and analysis of both rate and molecular weight data gave k_p/(k_t)^0.5 as 2.36 × 10⁻² dm^1.5/mole^0.5‐sec^0.5. Mössbauer and ESR spectra indicated the absence of Fe(III)‐containing paramagnetic species in the polyvinylferrocene formed under these conditions.