Pulse radiolysis studies of synthetic and biopolymers, 2

The radiation-induced cationic polymerization of styrene was investigated in methylene chloride in the presence of triphenylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate. The remarkable promotion of the polymerization and increase in molecular weight at a low temperature, -780C, were observed in the presence of triphenylsulfonium salt. On the basis of the pulse radiolysis study the both effects are nmainly due to PF6-, forming ion pairs with the cationic species involved in the polymerization. A pulse radiolysis technique was applied to biomolecule such as hemoproteins, and flavoproteins. (author)