Formation and decomposition of molecular complexes of N-vinylpyrrolidone, methyl methacrylate, and maleic anhydride

Schemes of complex formation and decomposition in monomers copolymerization in the absence of initiator (313 K) are suggested. The energy of formation of π-H- and H-complexes of N-vinylpyrrolidone with maleic anhydride, methyl methacrylate, or two latter with each other is 9.9–18.0 kJ mol–1, the equilibrium constant is 0.58–0.19 L mol–1 (CCl4). In the case of N-vinylpyrrolidone complexes with maleic anhydride we found the proceeding of a parallel radical process of formation of dimers, oligomers, and copolymers till ~10 wt % conversion. The copolymerization rate of these monomers is higher than the rate of their homopolymerization.