Water as the Preferred Solvent for Lewis Acidcatalyzed Free Radical Polymerization

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Water as the Preferred Solvent for Lewis
Acid-catalyzed Free Radical Polymerization H.K.
Hall, Jr., Chemistry Dept., The University of
Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721
In the recent years, Lewis acids contrary to
expectation have been shown to act as catalyst in
water solution. We wished to see if the
particular case of radical polymerization is also
influenced by Lewis acid in water.
All copolymerization were done using
equimolecular amounts of monomers in stirring
water at room temperature under UV irradiation
for 2h, using Irgacur 809 as initiator. When
more ZnBr2 vs monomer was used random high
molecular weights copolymers were obtained,
whereas lower molecular weights and higher
alternation was obtained when less ZnBr2 was
used. To a limited degree the use of Lewis acid
enhances alternation in water