Emulsion polymerization of styrene initiated by organocobalt complexes

The relationships between the rate of polymerization of styrene and the mol ecular mass of-the resulting polymers and between the structure of organoco balt(III) complexes with tridentate ligands were studied. The new initiator s are distinguished by the generation of a single radical upon decompositio n, and, as a result, by the absence of the cage effect, an increased effici ency of initiation, and a significantly lower concentration compared to ini tiators commonly used in the emulsion polymerization of styrene. It was fou nd that the rate of styrene polymerization depends on the length of alkyl r adical in the organocobalt complex and decreases in the following sequence: isopropyl-ethyl-octyl-cetyl.