Gel permeation chromatographic determination of activation rate constants in nitroxide-controlled free radical polymerization, 1. Direct analysis by peak resolution

The dissociation rate constant k_d related to the homolytic cleavage of the C? ON bond formed between a polystyrene (PS) and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (TEMPO) is determined by adopting the gel permeation chromatography peak-resolution method to the styrene polymerization with a PS-TEMPO adduct as a probe and the radical initiator tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The result was given by the Arrhenius equation, k_d = A exp(?E/(RT)) with A = 3.0 × 10¹³ s^?1 and E = 124 kJ · mol^?1.