The kinetics of the polymerization of styrene initiated by n -butyl lithium in hydrocarbon media

The kinetics of the polymerization of styrene initiated by n-butyl lithium in hydrocarbon media has been studied under conditions where both initiation and propagation of growing chains takes place simultaneously and in the absence of a termination reaction. Under the conditions employed, the initiator is incompletely consumed at complete conversion of monomer to polymer and consequently the degree of polymerization of the polystyrene is greater than the ratio of monomer to initiator concentration. The quantitative results support the mechanism previously proposed by Worsfold & By water for this polymerization.