The ionization and dissociation of triphenylmethyl chloride in 1,2-dichloroethane-styrene mixtures

Abstract

Triphenylmethyl chloride with mercuric chloride ionizes and dissociates in 1,2-dichloroethane and 1,2-dichloroethane-styrene mixtures into ion pairs and free ions. The values of the equilibrium constants for ionization to ion pairs and the subsequent dissociation of these show that the free ions are preferentially solvated by the added styrene. The consequences of this for the cationic polymerization of styrene are briefly discussed.