Kinetic study of the polymerization of α‐d‐styrene and/or styrene by homogeneous catalysis. Part I

Increases in the rates of polymerization of α‐d‐styrene and/or styrene by homogeneous catalysis with the (C5H5)2TiCl2–Al(C2H5)2Cl catalyst system were shown to be directly proportional to the α‐d‐styrene monomer concentration. These rate increases were explained by an increase in the concentration of active centers. Polymer intrinsic viscosities were shown to be independent of the α‐d‐styrene monomer concentration. Changes in the polymerization rates were correlated with observed changes in the catalyst composition measured spectrophotometrically. A scheme is suggested to explain the observed results.