Detailed peak fitting analysis of the Zn 2p photoemission spectrum for metallic films and its initial oxidation stages

The metallic Zn 2p photoemission spectra hold a complex background that requires individual assignment of Shirley background for each peak comprising the spectra. For this reason, a close fit requires the use of the Shirley‐Vegh‐Salvi‐Castle background‐type under the active background approach. We found that the intensity of the plasmon peaks and their associated background cannot be described through existing energy loss (intrinsic and extrinsic) formalisms. We also analyzed the Zn 2p and O 1s spectra for the initial stages of oxide formation at various oxygen exposures. We found that the composition of the oxide layer is ZnO_1.00±0.10 for all exposures, suggesting that our assessment of the primary function of metallic Zn is accurate and can be employed for quantitative studies. We also present a set of parameters to accurately fit and resolve the metallic and oxide Zn 2p peaks.     

Vinyl phenylboronic acid controlling co‐monomer for nitroxide mediated synthesis of thermoresponsive poly(2‐N morpholinoethyl methacrylate)

Low concentrations of 4‐vinylphenylboronic acid (VPBA) were copolymerized with 2‐N‐morpholinoethyl methacrylate (MEMA) by nitroxide mediated polymerization using BlocBuilder? unimolecular initiator at 80 to 90 °C. The MEMA/VPBA copolymerizations were performed at initial feed compositions (f_VPBA,0) of 0.05 to 0.10 VPBA, with f_VPBA,0 = 0.10 using dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solvent being most effective, as seen by a linear increase in number average molecular weight, M_n, versus conversion and low dispersity, ? < 1.40. The copolymers were further chain‐extended with a second batch of VPBA, resulting in a block copolymer with monomodal molecular weight distribution and ? = 1.66. For MEMA/VPBA copolymers, increases in VPBA composition and polymer solution concentration resulted in decreases in the cloud point temperature (CPT, typically varied between 27.4–37.8 °C) and CPT increased from 31.2 to 33.8 °C to about 88 °C with decreases in pH from 7 to 4. Rheological tests with small angle light scattering (SALS) confirmed CPTs measured by UV‐Vis and DLS. These copolymers were targeted as models to combine possible glucose‐sensing boronic acid functionality the thermoresponsiveness provided by MEMA groups. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1560–1572     

Regulation of Molecular Weight Characteristics and Microtacticity of Polyhexene Produced over Highly Active Supported Titanium–Magnesium Catalysts

The data on the effect of polymerization temperature of 1‐hexene within the 30–70 °C range in the presence of a highly active supported titanium–magnesium catalyst on molecular weight characteristics and microtacticity of polyhexene, with cocatalyst composition being additionally varied (AlEt₃ or Al(i‐Bu)₃), in the absence and presence of an external stereoregulating electron‐donating compound and hydrogen, are reported. Polymerization conditions, making it possible to specifically regulate molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of polyhexene over a broad range ((M_w = 7 × 10⁴–2.2 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹; M_w/M_n = 3.7–33) and regulate isotacticity of polyhexene (content of mmmm pentads from 56% to 96%), while retaining high catalyst activity, are determined.     

Copolymers of 4‐(3′,4′‐Dimethoxycinnamoyl)phenyl Acrylate and MMA: Synthesis,Characterization, Photocrosslinking Properties,and Monomer Reactivity Ratios

Abstract

4‐(3′,4′‐Dimethoxycinnamoyl)phenyl acrylate (DMCPA) containing pendant chalcone moiety was copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) by radical polymerization in ethyl methyl ketone at 70°C under a nitrogen atmosphere using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as a free radical initiator. The prepared polymer was characterized by UV, FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectra. The composition of the copolymer was determined using ¹H‐NMR analysis. The monomer reactivity ratios of copolymerization were determined using conventional linearization methods such as Fineman–Ross (r ₁ = 0.26 and r ₂ = 0.61), Kelen–Tudos (r ₁ = 0.26 and r ₂ = 0.61), and Ext. Kelen–Tudos (r ₁ = 0.23 and r ₂ = 0.59), and a non‐linear error‐in‐variables model (EVM) method using the computer program RREVM (r ₁ = 0.2541 and r ₂ = 0.6094). The molecular weights (M _w and M _n) of the copolymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers in air reveals that the stability of the copolymers decreases with an increase in the mole fraction of MMA in the copolymers. The solubility of the polymers was tested in various polar and non‐polar solvents. The glass transition temperature of the copolymers was determined as a function of copolymer composition. The copolymers were sensitive to UV light and became crosslinked after irradiation with 254 nm light.     

Effects of different acid functional groups on proton conductivity of polymer‐1,2,4‐triazole blends

Proton transfer reactions under anhydrous conditions have attracted remarkable interest due to chemical energy conversions in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. In this work, 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole (Tri) was used as a proton solvent in different polymer host matrices such as Poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA), and poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS). PVPATri_x and PAMPSTri_x electrolytes were investigated where x is the molar ratio of Tri to corresponding polymer repeat unit. The interaction between polymer and Tri was studied via FTIR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetry analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were employed to examine the thermal stability and homogeneity of the materials, respectively. PVPATri_1.5 showed a maximum water‐free proton conductivity of 2.3 × 10^?3 S/cm at 120 °C and that of PAMPSTri₂ was 9.3 × 10^?4 S/cm at 140 °C. The results were interpreted in terms of different acidic functional groups and composition. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3315–3322, 2006     

Adsorption of Uranyl Ions into Poly(Acrylamide‐co‐Acrylic Acid) Hydrogels Prepared by Gamma Irradiation

Acrylamide (AAm)/Acrylic Acid (AAc) copolymers have been prepared by gamma irradiation of binary mixtures at three different compositions where the acrylamide/acrylic acid mole ratios varied around 15, 20, and 30%. Threshold dose for 100% conversion of monomers into hydrogels was found to be 8.0 kGy. Poly(Acrylamide‐co‐Acrylic Acid) (poly(AAm‐co‐AAc)) hydrogels have been considered for the removal of uranyl ions from aqueous solutions. Swelling behavior of these hydrogels was determined in distilled water at different pH values and in aqueous solutions of uranyl ions. The results of swelling tests at pH 8.0 indicated that poly(AAm‐co‐AAc) hydrogel, containing 15% acrylamide showed maximum % swelling. Diffusion of water and aqueous solutions of uranyl ion into hydrogels was found to be non‐Fickian in character and their diffusion coefficients were calculated. The effect of pH, composition of hydrogel, and concentration of uranyl ions on the adsorption process were studied at room temperature. It was found that one gram of dry poly(AAm‐co‐AAc) hydrogel adsorbed 70–320 mg and 70–400 mg uranyl ions from aqueous solutions of uranyl nitrate and uranyl acetate in the initial concentration range of 50–1500 mg UO₂ ²⁺L^?, depending on the amount of AAc in the hydrogels, respectively. Adsorption isotherms were constructed for poly(AAm‐co‐AAc)–uranyl ion system indicating an S type of adsorption in the Giles classification system. It is concluded that crosslinked poly(AAm‐co‐AAc) hydrogels can be successfully used for the removal of uranyl ions from their aqueous solutions.     

Application of palladacycle catalyst in the synthesis of mono‐arylpyridyl bromides

The mono‐arylpyridyl bromides are very useful key intermediates that can be further functionalized to generate bioactive compounds. It is possible to obtain mono‐arylation products of 3,5‐dibromopyridine with high preferentiality and high yields by air‐ and moisture‐stable palladacycle (catalyst II ) catalyzed Suzuki reaction of 3,5‐dibromopyridine with a series of arylboronic acids—ester under the conditions of K₂CO₃–toluene–methanol (4:1, v/v), reflux (75 °C), 5.6 equiv. of 3,5‐dibromopyridine with the ratio (mono:bis) ranging from of 99:1 to 90:10. This new method could also be used to easily achieve pyridyl? pyridyl bond formation to afford 3‐bromo‐5‐pyridylpyridine ( 3j ). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Theoretical Study on the Intermolecular Interactions between 1,1‐Diamino‐2,2‐Dinitroethylene and H2O

The density functional method was applied to the study of 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (Fox‐7)/H₂O dimer. All the possible dimers ( 1, 2 and 3 ), as well as the monomers, were fully optimized with the DFT method at the B3LYP/6‐311++G^** level. The basis set superposition errors (BSSE) are 4.62, 4.07 and 3.45 kJ/mol, and the zero point energy (ZPE) corrections for the interaction energies are 7.94, 5.66 and 6.40 kJ/mol for 1, 2 and 3 , respectively. Dimer 1 is the most stable, judged by binding energy. After BSSE and ZPE corrections, the greatest corrected intermolecular interaction energy of dimer 1 was predicted to be ?29.36 kJ/mol. The charge redistribution mainly occurs on the adjacent N–H··· O atoms and N–O··· H atoms between submolecules. The oxygen in the nitro group acts as a moderate hydrogen acceptor as compared to water oxygen. Based on the statistical thermodynamic method, the standard thermodynamic functions, heat capacities (C⁰_P), entropies (S⁰_T) and thermal corrections to enthalpy (H⁰_T), and the changes of thermodynamic properties on going from monomer to dimer over the temperature range 200.00‐700.00 K were predicted. It is energetically or thermodynamically favorable for Fox‐7 to bind with H₂O and to form dimer 1 at room temperature.     

End‐functionalization of polystyrene by malto‐oligosaccharide generating aggregation‐tunable polymeric reverse micelle

This article describes that glucose, maltose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, and maltohexaose ( a , b , c , d , e , and f , respectively) were introduced into the initiating chain‐end of polystyrene (PSt) through the 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO)‐mediated radical polymerization. A series of glycoconjuaged TEMPO‐adducts, 1a–f , was synthesized and used as the initiators for the polymerization of styrene (St) for 6 h at 120 °C to afford the end‐functionalized PSt's with the acetyl saccharides, 2a–f , in the yields of 37–43%. For 2a–f obtained by the polymerizations using the [St]/[ 1 ] of 125, 250, and 500, the number‐average molecular weights determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), M_n,SEC's, were 4800–6300, 8800–10,600, and 18,400–25,200, respectively, which fairly agreed with the predicted values. The end‐functionalized PSt's with saccharides, 3a–f , which were obtained from the deacetylation of 2a–f using sodium methoxide in dry THF, formed the polymeric reverse micelles consisting of a saccharide‐core and a PSt‐shell in chloroform and toluene. The static laser light scattering (SLS) measurements provided the average molar mass of the aggregates in toluene, M_w,SLS's, which ranged from 7.50 × 10⁴ to 1.77 × 10⁵ for 3a , from 1.90 × 10⁵ to 4.93 × 10⁵ for 3b , from 4.41 × 10⁵ to 7.21 × 10⁵ for 3c , from 5.85 × 10⁵ to 8.51 × 10⁵ for 3d , from 7.55 × 10⁵ to 8.53 × 10⁵ for 3e , and from 8.54 × 10⁵ to 9.26 × 10⁵ for 3f . The aggregation numbers, N_agg's, which were calculated from the M_w,SLS's, were from 7 to 24 for 3a , from 20 to 37 for 3b , from 34 to 89 for 3c , from 39 to 116 for 3d , from 41 to 145 for 3e , and from 31 to 146 for 3f . It was confirmed that the aggregation property, such as the M_w,SLS or N_agg values, was strongly related to the polymerization degrees of St (DP's) or the number of the glucose residues (n's) for 3a–f . © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4864–4879, 2006     

Nanoporous Crosslinked Copolymers Prepared by Thermal Degradation of Poly(Methacryl‐N,N′‐diisopropylurea‐co‐ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate)

Abstract

Copolymers of methacryl‐N,N′‐diisopropylurea (MA‐DiPrU) with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) at monomer‐to‐monomer ratios in the feed: 0.3/0.7; 0.5/0.5; 0.7/0.3; 0.8/0.2 were prepared in butanone in the presence of 2% of dibenzoyl peroxide (Bz₂O₂) at 70°C for 48?hr. Copolymers regardless of the ratio of comonomers in the feed decompose thermally at 200–250°C under the separation of isopropylisocyanate (iPrNCO). Residues after the removal of iPrNCO are thermally stable nanoporous crosslinked copolymers of methacryl‐isopropylamide (MA‐iPrA) with EDMA which decompose by a one‐step mechanism between 280°C and 450°C. Nonporous model copolymers poly(MA‐iPrA‐co‐EDMA) of similar composition, prepared by copolymerization of MA‐iPrA with EDMA, also decomposed by a one‐step mechanism as shown by TGA measurements.     

Intensity modulation of the Shirley background of the Cr 3p spectra with photon energies around the Cr 2p edge

The background in X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy data originates, partially, from inelastically scattered photoelectrons. In fact, the current theoretical methods for calculating the background intensity are based on electron energy losses. However, a critical part of the experimental signal, which is known as the Shirley background, cannot be described within the current formalisms. This suggests that the Shirley electrons are not associated with energy losses of photoelectrons and must originate from a different photoexcitation phenomenon with a cross section of its own. We propose a mechanism based on core channeling as the physical origin of the Shirley signal.     

Investigation of sequence isomer effects in AB‐polybenzimidazole polymers

In the present work, a unique series of random polybenzimidazole (PBI) copolymers consisting of the recently reported novel isomeric AB‐PBI (i‐AB‐PBI) and the well known AB‐PBI were synthesized. The i‐AB‐PBI incorporates additional linkages (2,2 and 5,5) in the benzimidazole sequence when compared with AB‐PBI. Random copolymers, varying in composition at 10 mol % increments, were synthesized to evaluate the effects of sequence isomerism in the polymer main chain without altering the fundamental chemical composition or functionality of a polymer chain consisting of 2,5‐benzimidazole units. Polymer solutions were prepared in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and cast into membranes using the sol–gel PPA process. The resulting polymers were found to have high inherent viscosities (>2.0 dL/g) and showed elevated membrane proton conductivities (～0.2 S/cm) under anhydrous conditions at 180 °C. Fuel cell performance evaluations were conducted, and an average output voltage ranging from 0.5 to 0.60 V at 0.2 A/cm² was observed for hydrogen/air at an operational temperature of 180 °C without applied backpressure or humidification. Herein, we report for the first time glass transition (T_g) temperatures for AB‐PBI, i‐AB‐PBI, and an anomalous T_g effect for the series of randomized PBIs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 619–628     

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Copper(II) and Silver Complexes with 5‐Methyl‐1‐(4‐Methylphenyl)‐1,2,3‐Triazol‐4‐Carboxylic Acid

Two novel complexes [Cu L ₂(MeOH)] ( 1 )and [Ag₂ L (H L )₂(MeOH)] ( 2 ) ( L = 5‐methyl‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐carboxylic acid) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and X‐ray diffraction. Complex 1 is a mononuclear structure; the molecules were assembled into an infinite 2–D supramolecular by the C–H···O weak interactions. Complex 2 is a centrosymmetric dinuclear structure with bis(unidentate) carboxylato co‐ordination mode, and the molecules were assembled into 2–D layers by C–H···O and O–H···O weak interactions.     

Complex phase behavior and state of miscibility in Poly(ethylene glycol)/Poly(l‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) Blends

A miscibility and phase behavior study was conducted on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/poly(l ‐lactide‐ε‐caprolactone) (PLA‐co‐CL) blends. A single glass transition evolution was determined by differential scanning calorimetry initially suggesting a miscible system; however, the unusual T_g bias and subsequent morphological study conducted by polarized light optical microscopy (PLOM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) evidenced a phase separated system for the whole range of blend compositions. PEG spherulites were found in all blends except for the PEG/PLA‐co‐CL 20/80 composition, with no interference of the comonomer in the melting point of PEG (T_m = 64 °C) and only a small one in crystallinity fraction (X_c = 80% vs. 70%). However, a clear continuous decrease in PEG spherulites growth rate (G) with increasing PLA‐co‐CL content was determined in the blends isothermally crystallized at 37 °C, G being 37 µm/min for the neat PEG and 12 µm/min for the 20 wt % PLA‐co‐CL blend. The kinetics interference in crystal growth rate of PEG suggests a diluting effect of the PLA‐co‐CL in the blends; further, PLOM and AFM provided unequivocal evidence of the interfering effect of PLA‐co‐CL on PEG crystal morphology, demonstrating imperfect crystallization in blends with interfibrillar location of the diluting amorphous component. Significantly, AFM images provided also evidence of amorphous phase separation between PEG and PLA‐co‐CL. A true T_g vs. composition diagram is proposed on the basis of the AFM analysis for phase separated PEG/PLA‐co‐CL blends revealing the existence of a second PLA‐co‐CL rich phase. According to the partial miscibility established by AFM analysis, PEG and PLA‐co‐CL rich phases, depending on blend composition, contain respectively an amount of the minority component leading to a system presenting, for every composition, two T_g's that are different of those of pure components. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 111–121     

Dual‐responsive copolymer poly(2,2,3,4,4,4‐hexafluorobutyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] synthesized via photoATRP for surface with tunable wettability

In this work, a series of block copolymers of poly(2,2,3,4,4,4‐hexafluorobutyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PHFBMA‐b‐PDMAEMA) were synthesized via photo‐induced atom transfer radical polymerization (photoATRP) at room temperature. By the introduction of PDMAEMA segment, the hydrophilicity of the silicon wafer surface spin‐coated with PHFBMA homopolymer was improved. Furthermore, the study of tunable surface wettability showed that the surface wettability was pH‐dependent and thermal‐independent at pH 2 and 10. The as‐fabricated surface coated with PHFBMA₁₁₀‐b‐PDMAEMA₁₈₇ showed switchable water contact angle from 85.4° at pH > 4 to 55.0° at pH 2 due to the protonation and deprotonation of tertiary amine groups of PDMAEMA. However, because of the ascendancy of protonated PDMAEMA at pH 2 and the decreased LCST at pH 10, the wettability of the as‐prepared surfaces was thermal‐insensitive. Finally, surface morphology and composition investigation showed that the property of wettability‐controllable surface was not only influenced by surface composition, but also affected by chain conformation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3868–3877     

Thermal polycondensation of sugar fluoride to form highly branched polysaccharide

Sugar fluorides were found to undergo powder‐to‐powder polycondensation without any catalyst at 110–160 °C under vacuum, giving highly branched polysaccharides (Conv. = 40–95%, M_w = 1400–20,000). The cross‐polarized optical microscopy at 110 °C disclosed that the crystal shape of α‐glucosyl fluoride ( FGlc ) was unchanged throughout the polymerization in spite of producing the amorphous polymer ( Poly‐FGlc ). The solid‐state post polymerization of Poly‐FGlc (M_w: 2700) at 180 °C increased the higher molecular weight (M_w: 8900). The product polysaccharide was per‐O‐methylated and subjected to structure analyses. Acid‐hydrolysis, which gave a variety of the partially O‐methylated monosaccharides, suggested that the product polysaccharides had a highly branched structure consisting of all of the possible glycosidic linkages. MALDI‐TOF mass analysis revealed that the 1,6‐anhydride terminal unit was formed and participated to the polymerization. Interestingly, α‐maltosyl fluoride hydrate ( FMal·H ₂ O ) was polymerized at the lower temperature (100 °C) than the anhydrate ( FMal ), which required 160 °C for the polymerization. They produced different structure polymers even from the same monomer. The polymer from the former consisted of the disaccharide‐repeating unit, while the repeating unit of the polymer from the latter was the monosaccharide, which was formed by the acetal exchange reaction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3851–3860, 2007     

Cocrystals of 1,4‐diethynylbenzene with 1,3‐diacetylbenzene and benzene‐1,4‐dicarbaldehyde exhibiting strong nonconventional alkyne–carbonyl C—H…O hydrogen bonds between the components

Weak interactions between organic molecules are important in solid‐state structures where the sum of the weaker interactions support the overall three‐dimensional crystal structure. The sp‐C—H…N hydrogen‐bonding interaction is strong enough to promote the deliberate cocrystallization of a series of diynes with a series of dipyridines. It is also possible that a similar series of cocrystals could be formed between molecules containing a terminal alkyne and molecules which contain carbonyl O atoms as the potential hydrogen‐bond acceptor. I now report the crystal structure of two cocrystals that support this hypothesis. The 1:1 cocrystal of 1,4‐diethynylbenzene with 1,3‐diacetylbenzene, C₁₀H₆·C₁₀H₁₀O₂, (1), and the 1:1 cocrystal of 1,4‐diethynylbenzene with benzene‐1,4‐dicarbaldehyde, C₁₀H₆·C₈H₆O₂, (2), are presented. In both cocrystals, a strong nonconventional ethynyl–carbonyl sp‐C—H…O hydrogen bond is observed between the components. In cocrystal (1), the C—H…O hydrogen‐bond angle is 171.8 (16)° and the H…O and C…O hydrogen‐bond distances are 2.200 (19) and 3.139 (2) Å, respectively. In cocrystal (2), the C—H…O hydrogen‐bond angle is 172.5 (16)° and the H…O and C…O hydrogen‐bond distances are 2.25 (2) and 3.203 (2) Å, respectively.     

Substituent effects in ethene/styrene copolymerization: Dormant state destabilization?

Homogeneous metallocene and CGC catalyzed copolymerizations of ethene (E) and various substituted styrenes are examined. It is found that those with p‐tert‐butylstyrene (TBS) occur with dramatically higher degrees of incorporation and overall productivity than those observed under the same conditions with styrene. It is argued that that the σ‐donating effect of the tert‐butyl substituent is responsible for this performance, effecting a destabilization of an otherwise dormant benzylic species following 2,1‐insertion of the styrene. It was found possible to produce what is essentially TBS‐alt‐E (44% TBS with no sequential TBS units) using a standard constrained geometry catalyst at impressively high productivity [1.5 × 10⁶ g/(mol_Ti.bar_E.h)] and unusually low concentration of TBS (0.7 M). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3111–3117, 2009     

One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate copolymers

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate (V/M) copolymers were prepared by free‐radical bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition of these copolymers was calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The radical reactivity ratios for N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (V) and methyl acrylate (M) were r_V = 0.09, r_M = 0.44. These reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of V and M were determined using the Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear least‐squares error‐in‐variable methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers overlapped and were complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra were done with distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two dimensional ¹³C‐¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopic experiments. The two‐dimensional ¹H‐¹H homonuclear total correlation spectroscopic NMR spectrum showed the various bond interactions, thus inferring the possible structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2225–2236, 2002     

One‐ and two‐dimensional NMR characterization of N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate copolymers

N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone/methyl acrylate (V/M) copolymers were prepared by free‐radical bulk polymerization using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The copolymer composition of these copolymers was calculated from ¹H NMR spectra. The radical reactivity ratios for N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (V) and methyl acrylate (M) were r_V = 0.09, r_M = 0.44. These reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of V and M were determined using the Kelen–Tudos and nonlinear least‐squares error‐in‐variable methods. The ¹³C{¹H} and ¹H NMR spectra of these copolymers overlapped and were complex. The complete spectral assignment of the ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectra were done with distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer and two dimensional ¹³C‐¹H heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopic experiments. The two‐dimensional ¹H‐¹H homonuclear total correlation spectroscopic NMR spectrum showed the various bond interactions, thus inferring the possible structure of the copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2225–2236, 2002