| Abstract: | p-Methoxystyrene (MOS), butyl vinyl ether (BVE), and N-vinylcarbazole (VCZ) were polymerized in high yield by azoinitiators such as 2, 2'-azodiisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in the presence of electron acceptors such as Ph2I+PF6−. An electron paramagnetic resonance (ESR) study of the model radicals of the propagating radical showed the transformation of the radical to the corresponding cation in the presence of the electron acceptors. In the case of BVE, the polymer formation was caused by cationic species produced by the transformation of the initiating radical. The polymerizations of MOS and VCZ were ascribed to the transformation of the growing radical to the corresponding cation during the propagation step which was classified as the radical/cation transformation polymerization. Block copolymers of MOS/cyclohexene oxide (1, 2-epoxycyclohexane) (CHO) and VCZ/CHO were effectively prepared by the radical/cation transformation polymerization of the appropriate monomers in the presence of AIBN, electron acceptor and CHO. The formation of block copolymers was characterized by turbidimetry, thin-layer chromatography, and solubility tests. |
