Polymerization of styrene with diphenylzinc-water systems previously aged

Summary Diphenylzinc-water systems, Ph₂Zn-H₂O, were aged at various temperatures and for various lengths of time. These systems by themselves and those to which t-butyl chloride was added, Ph₂Zn–H₂O–Bu^tCl, were used as initiator for styrene polymerizations. For Ph₂Zn–H₂O systems, both conversion and molecular weight of the polymers were much affected by ageing. Ph₂Zn–H₂O–Bu^tCl systems, after ageing at various temperatures, did not improve their capability to induce styrene polymerization at-78°C in dichloromethane, confirming their ionic nature.Presented in part at the 2nd Ibero-American Polymer Symposium, 4th Latin-American Polymer Symposium, 6th International Macromolecular Colloquium, Gramado, Brazil, September 1994