Solid-state initiation of polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole by gases

Chlorine gas has been shown by previous investigators to initiate the polymerization of solid N-vinylcarbazole at room temperature, giving a maximum yield of 66% polymer after 18 hr. This initiation of polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole without the application of heat, by a gas, is the only solid-state initiation other than those that are radiation-induced known to us. This study was undertaken in order to determine both the scope and the mechanism of the room-temperature solid-state initiation of vinyl polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole by gases. The gases (HCl, Cl₂, and N₂O₄) were absorbed by solid N-vinylcarbazole, giving very rapid exothermic polymerization: HCl, 37% polymer yield, M?_n 2500; Cl₂, 50% polymer yield, M?_n 4703; N₂O₄, 91% polymer yield, M?_n 7073. The gases NOCl, BF₃, and HBr were not absorbed by N-vinylcarbazole and did not initiate polymerization. The N₂O₄-initiated polymerization, which gave a high yield of polymer, was complete within 5 min. after introduction of gas. This polymerization method and the resulting polymer compared favorably with conventional peroxide-initiated melt polymerization and the polymer obtained thereform. The mechanism of gas-initiated polymerization, which was studied with introduction of inhibitors, appears to be classically cationic in nature.