Homopolymerisation radicalaire de l'anhydride maleique

The radical homopolymerization of maleic anhydride was reinvestigated in benzene solution and the resulting polymers were characterized. The values of the reaction orders vs monomer and initiator, as well as the activation volume, give strong support for a radical polymerization with degradative transfer to monomer. The reaction scheme does not agree with the mechanism previously proposed. The kinetic results fit the Deb equation very well and confirm the abnormal character of the polymerization.