Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: November 27, 2015
Mechanochemical Synthesis of Poly(phenylene vinylenes)
Jens B Ravnsbæk1, Timothy M Swager1
1Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Avenue 77, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
Abstract:
We report a simple, rapid, and solvent-free methodology for solid-state polymerizations yielding poly(phenylene vinylenes) (PPVs) promoted by ball-milling. This solid-state Gilch polymerization method produces PPVs in as little as five minutes of milling. Detailed investigations of the parameter space governing the solid-state polymerization, i.e., milling time, base strength, solid-state dilution, milling frequency, and size of milling balls, revealed that polymerization by ball-milling is a rapid process achieving molecular number average weights of up to 40 kDa in up to 70% yield. To explore the scope, a solid-state polymerization via the dithiocarbamate precursor route is explored.
Related Concept Videos
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
Ziegler–Natta Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Free-Radical Chain Reaction and Polymerization of Alkenes
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

