In situ mid-IR and UV-visible spectroscopies applied to the determination of kinetic parameters in the anionic copolymerization of styrene and isoprene

In situ MIR and UV-visible spectroscopies have been combined in a set-up that has been used to monitor anionic (co)polymerizations of styrene and isoprene. This experimental set-up gives access to the simultaneous and real time concentrations of monomers and actives species during the polymerization, through optical fibers probes immersed in the reaction medium. This method allows fast, accurate and reproducible measurements of the rate constants of the (co)polymerizations investigated even if it does not resort to high vacuum. The influence of some experimental factors has been examined using this method. Among the kinetic parameters governing the (co)polymerization of styrene and isoprene initiated by sec-butyllithium, the influence of the nature of solvent was investigated. It appears that the only reaction to depend on the nature of the aromatic solvent (k_ss,toluene > k_{ss,ethylbenzene}) is the propagation step of styrene.