AbstractStudies on polymerization of styrene by the heterogeneous catalyst system Cu2Cl2+ AlEt3are reported. Kinetic studies carried out at an optimum catalyst composition Al/Cu= 0.8 and aging time of 4 h give a value of 55 kJ/mol for the activation energy. The rate law can be presented asR=Kcat mon2. A radical mechanism is proposed on the basis of the effect of hydroquinone and ESR spectra. The mechanism of polymerization with this catalyst system is different than that of CuCl2+ AlEt2X (X = Br, Cl), which was reported earlier.
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