Studies on polymerization of vinyl acetate using ylide as an initiator and degradative transfer agent

The polymerization of vinyl acetate initiated by β-picolinium-p-chlorophenacylide was carried out at 30, 35, and 40°C, using the conventional dilatometric technique. The initiator and the monomer exponent values were 0.80 ± 0.15 and unity, respectively. The polymerization was inhibited in the presence of hydroquinone, but was favored by nonpolar solvent and polymerization temperature. The energy of activation was 90.3 kJ mol−1. An average value of k/kt for the present system was found to be 0.37 × 10−2 L mol−1 s−1. The results are explained in terms of radical mode of polymerization with degradative initiator transfer; the principal mode of termination, however, was biomolecular.