POLYMERIZATION OF N-PHENYLMALEIMIDE WITH ORGANOALUMINUM INITIATORS

Organoaluminum compounds-triethylaluminum (TEA), diethylaluminum chlor ide (DEAC), and ethylaluminum dichloride (EADC)-showed fair reactiviti es for polymerization of N-phenylmaleimide (N-PMI). The polymerization probably proceeded through an anionic mechanism. The initiator system s prepared by the reactions of organoaluminums with diphenylamine (DPA ) brought about appreciable effects on polymer yield depending on the molar ratio of an organoaluminum to the amine. GPC profiles showed tha t poly(N-PMI) prepared from those initiators had a high molecular weig ht part with fairly narrow molecular weight distribution and a low mol ecular weight part consisting of a dimer and trimer. The addition of 1 -methylimidazole (MIm) to organoaluminum/DPA systems gave rise to incr ease of polymer yield and great change of GPC profile-broadening of mo lecular weight distribution with the disappearance of the low molecula r weight part-.