Initiation of polymerization of methyl methacrylate by oxalic acid and iron(III) mixtures

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate either by free radical or charge transfer mechanism has been studied in dimethyl sulphoxide at 60° in the presence of oxalic acid and hexakis dimethylsulphoxide iron(III) perchlorate, [Fe(DMSO)₆](ClO₄)₃. Increased rate was noticed for 1:1 mole ratio of oxalic acid to Fe³⁺ for charge transfer polymerization; a well defined induction period was found for free radical polymerization in the same systems. Mechanisms for the two types of reaction are proposed. The rate constant for the interaction of poly(methyl methacrylate) radical with the iron-oxalate complex was found to be 1.52 × 10⁵ l. mol^?1 sec^?1 at 60°.