RADICAL CATION TRANSFORMATION POLYMERIZATION AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE PREPARATION OF BLOCK-COPOLYMERS

p-Methoxystyrene (MOS), butyl vinyl ether (EVE), and N-vinylcarbazole (VCZ) were polymerized in high yield by azoinitiators such as 2,2'-azo diisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in the presence of electron accepters such a s Ph2I+PF6-. An electron paramagnetic resonance (ESR) study of the mod el radicals of the propagating radical showed the transformation of th e radical to the corresponding cation in the presence of the electron accepters. In the case of BVE, the polymer formation was caused by cat ionic species produced by the transformation of the initiating radical . The polymerizations of MOS and VCZ were ascribed to the transformati on of the growing radical to the corresponding cation during the propa gation step which was classified as the radical/cation transformation polymerization. Block copolymers of MOS/cyclohexene oxide (1,2-epoxycy clohexane) (CHO) and VCZ/CHO were effectively prepared by the radical/ cation transformation polymerization of the appropriate monomers in th e presence of AIBN, electron acceptor and CHO. The formation of block copolymers was characterized by turbidimetry, thin-layer chromatograph y, and solubility tests.