Iron Metal Complexes as Catalysts for the Radical-Initiated Homo- and Copolymerization of Methacrylates

Abstract

The paper presents data on the effect of iron metal complexes (ferrocene and dimer cyclopentadienyldicarbonyl iron) on the homo- and copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate initiated by benzoyl peroxide. It was shown that, in the presence of the metal complexes, the shapes of kinetic curves changed, and the compositions of copolymers and the initial mixtures of monomers almost coincided; that is, the resulting copolymer composition corresponded to the azeotropic composition. The copolymerization constants were close to unity. The presence of metallocenes affected the microstructure of the copolymers and their molecular-weight characteristics. These changes were explained by the formation of macromolecules with the participation of both free radicals and coordination active centers formed in the presence of the metal complexes.