Catalytic Effect of Dimethylsulfoxide Complexes of Rh(III) and Ru(II) on the Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers Initiated by 2,2′-Azobisisobutyronitrile

Transition metal salts and complexes catalyze the polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence or absence of 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). In this article the effect of some dimethyl sulfoxide complexes of Rh(III) and Ru(II) on the polymerization of vinyl monomers such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methyl acrylate (MA) initiated by AIBN is reported. The percentage conversion and the rate of polymerization of MMA and MA are found to increase rapidly with time. At the critical concentrations of the complexes, the percentage conversion and the rates of reaction are found to be higher than those with AIBN alone, which significantly proves their accelerating effect. At concentrations above and below that of the critical value, the percentage conversion and the rates of polymerization of MMA and MA are found to decrease from those with AIBN alone. The trend of the increase and decrease of the percentage conversion and the rate of reaction with both types of complexes are similar. The solvent used in the polymerization of MMA and MA is dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and the temperature of the reaction is 60°C. A precise mechanism for the catalytic reaction is suggested.