Homopolymerization of maleic anhydride

Pyridine and picoline initiated polymerizations of maleic anhydride were investigated in acetic anhydride. It was found that the electrical conductivity of the polymerizing mixture increases in the course of the reaction, and that the initial rate of polymerization increases with increasing monomer and pyridine concentrations, and its values, measured at different temperatures, show the apparent overall activation energy to be about 10 kcal/mol (41,87 kJ/mol). The rates of polymerization and the increase of specific conductivities of the reaction mixtures show the following order of initiator activity: γ‐picoline > β‐picoline > pyridine > α‐picoline. Therefore, the results of the kinetic and conductivity measurements suggest that the polymerization rate depends on the basicity of the initiator.