Synthesis of polymethylmethacrylate by using triphenybis-muthoniumylide: Kinetics & mechanism

The polymerization of methylmethacrylate initiated by triphenyl- bismuthoni um 1,2,3,4-tetraphenylcyclopentadienylide in benzene follows ideal radical kinetics. The activation energy (E-a) and k(p)(2)/k(t), values were 76 KJ m ol(-1) and 1.06 x 10(-1) L mol(-1)s(-1), respectively. The scanning electro n microscopy and qualitative analysis shows that the little amount of bismu th has trapped in polymer matrix. The presence of 6 hyperfine lines in E.S. R. spectrum indicate that the system follows free radical polymerization an d the initiation is brought about by phenyl radical.