The photopolymerization of isoprene with the use of hydrogen peroxide as photoinitiator

The photochemical polymerization reactions of isoprene with the use of H2O2 as the photoinitiator have been studied in benzene, acetone, and tetrahydrofuran solutions. Hydrogen peroxide is photodecomposed to form hydroxyl radicals which may initiate the polymerization of isoprene with hydroxyl terminated polyisoprene as the product. Average molecular weight, microstructure, and the functionality of the hydroxyl terminated polyisoprene are determined. A suitable reaction mechanism and the polymerization rate equations are proposed. The overall activations energy is evaluated to be about 3.8 kcal/mol.