POLYMERIZATION OF N-PHENYLMALEIMIDE INITIATED BY 9-BORABICYCLO[3.3.1]NONANE

N-Phenylmaleimide (N-PMI) was polymerized by 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan e (9-BBN) in tetrahydrofuran under argon at 0 degrees C. The molecular weight distributions of the resulting polyers were around 1.1. The ra te of polymerization was proportional to [9-BBN](1.18) and [N-PMI](1.2 4). Hydroquinone had little effect on the rate of polymerization and o n the molecular weight of the polymers obtained. Triethylamine complet ely inhibited the polymerization, and aniline with a relatively small pK(a) value and zinc iodide effectively retarded the polymerization. T he polymerization did not proceed either in polar dimethylformamide or in non-polar toluene. In polymerizations at temperatures higher than 60 degrees C the conversions decreased. On the basis of the results, a non-radical mechanism was proposed for this polymerization.