Styrene and methyl methacrylate polymerization using diphenylzinc-cocatalyst systems. part II.

Various diphenylzinc–additive systems were used to initiate homopolymerization of styrene and of methyl methacrylate. The polymers obtained were characterized by size exclusion chromatography, by ¹H– and ¹³C–NMR and measurements of intrinsic viscosities [η]. These data indicated that polymerization is much influenced by: The nature of the additive employed, the proportion of the additive relative to diphenylzinc and the condition of polymerization.