Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate with diphenyl diselenide under thermal or photoirradiational conditions

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with diphenyl diselenide (DPDSE) in the presence of AIBN at 60 degreesC was investigated. DPDSE was worked as a chain transfer agent (CTA). The chain transfer constant (C-tr) of DPDSE for MMA was estimated to be 1.43. On the other hand DPDSE was functioned as a photoiniferter for the photopolymerization of MMA. In a limited range of conversion, both the polymer yield and number average of molecular weight ((M) over bar)(n) increased with the reaction time, and the (M) over bar (n) linearly increased with the yield. The terminal structure of poly(MMA) was investigated by the Se-77 NMR spectrum based on Methyl alpha -phenylseleno isobutylate (MSEPI) as model compound of the omega -chain end of poly(MMA). Further, photopolymerization of poly (MMA) containing phenylseleno group at omega -chain end as a polymeric photoiniferter with MMA effectively afforded a poly (MMA) having higher molecular weight.