Emulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate: Spin trapping and EPR study

The propagating radical in the emulsion polymerization reaction of butyl acrylate was detected by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy using two spin-trapping agents, 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) and α-(4-pyridyl 1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (PyOBN). Through analysis of hyperfine structure of the spectra obtainedfrom the trapped radicals, the propagating radical is inferred to be the well known acrylate radical, ? [CH₂? CH(COOC₄H₉)]_n? CH₂? CH(COOC₄H₉)? . © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.