Radiation-Induced Cycloaddition and Polymerization in the Systems N^-Ethylmalelmide-Benzene and N.-Ethylmaleimide-lsopropylbenzene

The radiolysis of the electron acceptor N-ethylmaleimide dissolved in the aromatic donors benzene and isopropyl-benzene leads to the 2:1 adduct and to a polymer fraction. The polymer fraction is composed of N-ethylmaleimide homo-polymer and N-ethylmaleimide polymer containing one or two benzene or isopropylbenzene molecules. The ratio of these products depends on the N-ethylmaleimide concentration. At low concentration adduct formation predominates, whereas at high concentration homopolymerization of N-ethylmaleimide is favored.