Main-chain scissions of poly(methyl methacrylate) induced by chlorinated nitrosobenzenes as radical generators

The spin trap agent, 2,6-di-chloronitrosobenzene (DCNB), which is decomposed into a nitrogen monoxide and a chlorinated phenyl radical on slight warming, was known to act as a radical generator through hydrogen abstraction by the chlorinated phenyl radical from an adjacent molecule. An ESR spectrum was observed at room temperature from a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-benzene solution after the addition of DCNB followed by a warming to ca 30°C. The radical concentration increased with time. The spectrum was assigned to the spin adducts of PMMA radicals generated and trapped by DCNB. Analyses of the spectra observed from normal PMMA and partially deuterated PMMA's indicated that the majority of the PMMA radicals were the chain-scission species

and a minority were

. It was concluded that the main-chain scissions in PMMA were caused by the radicals (D), which had been primarily produced by the chlorinated phenyl radicals. These ESR data are supported by the fact that a decrease in molecular weight of PMMA was observed after addition of DCNB, and further reinforced by the fact that a molecular weight estimated from the number of the scission radicals agreed fairly well with the measured molecular weight. Similar results were obtained when both tri-chlorinated nitrosobenzene and tetra-chlorinated nitrosobenzene were used instead of DCNB.