Microwave‐Assisted Free Radical Polymerizations and Copolymerizations of Styrene and Methyl Methacrylate

Summary: Radical homopolymerizations and copolymerizations of styrene were performed in toluene and N , N ‐dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvents using different initiators with and without microwave irradiation. Only the homopolymerization of styrene under microwave irradiation in DMF with D t BP showed significantly enhanced styrene conversion whereas other initiators resulted in no or only slight increase of styrene conversion under microwave irradiation. In any case, DMF was required to gain in styrene conversion under microwave irradiation. Significantly higher monomer conversions were observed under otherwise comparable conditions in the copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in DMF. Microwave‐induced selectivity of monomers was not observed in copolymerizations. Yield of styrene polymerizations under varying reaction conditions initiated by D t BP. image Yield of styrene polymerizations under varying reaction conditions initiated by D t BP.