Abstract

The AIBN-initiated polymerization of ?-nitrostyrene, as well as its copolymerization with styrene, is negligible. Millimolar concentrations of nitro compound lead to a notable decrease of the polymerization rate of styrene and the molecular weight of the produced polymers. These results, together with the NMR analysis of the polymers, show that ?-nitrostyrene acts as a strong inhibitor of styrene polymerization. A mechanism that involves the release of NO2 is proposed to explain the behavior of ?-nitrostyrene as inhibitor.