Question

You are tasked to synthesize a polystyrene with Mn = 31,200 and a low molecular weight distribution index (Mw/Mn of between 1.05- 1.2). Please describe two different routes of synthesizing this polymer, including what kind of polymerization should be employed (you may draw chemical equations), what initiator and its concentration (suppose the styrene concentration is 3 M) should be used, and any other ingredients that may be used.

Answer 1

radical polymerization

another polymerization is by ionic pathway,

                     useing sufuric acid as catalist.this reaction propagate through carbocation formation at end addition of strong nucleophile terminate the reaction.