New insights into 1,2,4-trioxolane stability and the crucial role of ozone in promoting polymer degradation.
Quantum chemical calculations reveal that ozone is capable of instigating a series of degradative processes in poly(methyl methacrylate). The crux lies in the self-decomposition of 1,2,4-trioxolane, which undergoes a spin intersystem crossing process and O-O bond cleavage to unravel a triplet biradical intermediate that facilitates auto-degradation of the polymer chain.
ARC Centre of Excellence for Free-Radical Chemistry and Biotechnology, Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia. mcoote@rsc.anu.edu.au.
Richmond
R
Lee
Michelle L
ML
Coote