Spectroscopic Investigation of Polymerization in p-Methyl Styrene

Abstract

The expansion cooled LIF spectrum of the $S_{1}$ state of p-Me-styrene was observed to change markedly with time. The change is inhibited by enclosure of the sample in a glass vessel as opposed to the stainless steel vessel which is normally used, indicating that Ni catalyzed polymerization is occurring in the liquid state before expansion. Spectral features due to polymerization will be discussed as well as the possibility of spectroscopically following the individual polymerization kinetics of the monomer, dimer and trimer.