Radical alternating copolymerization of vinyl ethers

New alternating equimolar copolymers of electrophilic trisubstituted ethylenes, methyl 3-phenyl-2-cyanopropenoate and 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethene, with ethyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, t-butyl, 2-chloroethyl, and phenyl vinyl ethers were prepared by free radical initiation. Chemical compositions of the copolymers are 1 : 1 in broad ranges of monomer ratios. The copolymerization rate of both electrophilic monomers with the vinyl ethers increase in the series 2-chloroethyl > ethyl > phenyl > n-butyl > i-butyl > t-butyl. These variations in the reactivity of the vinyl ethers are discussed in terms of their preferred conformations in donor-acceptor complexes with electrophilic trisubstituted ethylenes. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Novel Copolymers of Styrene. 16. Halogen Ring-Disubstituted Methyl 2-Cyano-3-Phenyl-2-Propenoates

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylenes, ring-disubstituted methyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates, RPhCH?C(CN)CO₂CH₃, where R is 2,5-dichloro, 3,5-dichloro, 2,3-difluoro, 3-chloro-2-fluoro, 3-chloro-4-fluoro, 4-chloro-3-fluoro, 2-chloro-5-nitro, and 2-chloro-6-nitro were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The monomers were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-disubstituted benzaldehydes and methyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. All the ethylenes were copolymerized with styrene (M₁) in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r₁) for the monomers is 4-Cl-3-F (4.87) > 2,3-F₂ (4.49) > 3-Cl-4-F (3.50) > 3-Cl-2-F (2.96) > 2-Cl-5-NO₂ (2.02) > 2,5-Cl₂ (1.54) > 2-Cl-6-NO₂ (1.00) > 3,5-Cl₂ (0.41). Relatively high T_g of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates a decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200–500ºC range with residue (1.5–34.5% wt), which then decomposed in the 500-800ºC range.     

Novel Copolymers of Styrene and Some Ring‐Substituted 2‐Cyano‐N,N‐Dimethyl‐3‐Phenyl‐2‐Propenamides

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylene monomers, ring‐substituted 2‐cyano‐N,N‐dimethyl‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propenamides, RC₆H₄CH?C(CN)CON(CH₃)₂ (where R is 4‐(CH₃)₂N, 4‐CH₃CO₂, 4‐CH₃CONH, 2‐CN, 3‐CN, 4‐CN, 4‐(C₂H₅)₂N) were synthesized by potassium hydroxide catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring‐substituted benzaldehydes and N,N‐dimethyl cyanoacetamide, and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR. Novel copolymers of the ethylenes and styrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator, ABCN at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. High T_g of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. The gravimetric analysis indicated that the copolymers decompose in the 300–450°C range.     

Novel Copolymers of 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylene with 4-Fluoro- and Pentafluorostyrene

Copolymerization of 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylene (PDE) with 4-fluorostyrene and pentafluorostyrene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C yielded random copolymers with PDE alternating units. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis and the structure was analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r₁) and the tendency toward alternation of monomer units in the copolymer for these two monomers, is 4-fluorostyrene (1.96) > pentafluorostyrene (0.51). Higher glass transition temperature of the copolymers in comparison with that of homopolymers indicates a decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit.     

Novel Copolymers of 4-Fluorostyrene. 11. Some Ring-substituted 1,1-dicyano-2-(1-naphthyl)ethylenes

Novel copolymers of trisubstituted ethylene monomers, ring-substituted 1,1-dicyano-2-(1-naphthyl)ethylenes, RC₁₀H₆CH?C(CN)₂ (where R is H, 2-OCH₃, 4-OCH₃) and 4-fluorostyrene were prepared by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r ₁) for the monomers is (5.86) > 2-CH₃O (4.28) > 4-CH₃O (2.87). Relatively high T_g of the copolymers in comparison with that of poly(4-fluorostyrene) indicates a decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200–500°C range with residue (7.3–7.7% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500–800°C range.     

Novel Copolymers of Styrene and Alkyl and Alkoxy Ring‐Trisubstituted Methyl 2‐Cyano‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propenoates

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylene monomers, akyl and alkoxy ring‐trisubstituted methyl 2‐cyano‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propenoates, RC₆H₂CH[dbnd]C(CN)CO₂CH_3, (where R is 2,3‐dimethyl‐4‐methoxy, 2,5‐dimethyl‐4‐methoxy‐, 2,3,4‐trimethoxy‐, 2,4,5‐trimethoxy, 2,4,6‐trimethoxy, and 2,4‐dimethoxy‐3‐methyl), were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring‐substituted benzaldehydes and methyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR. Novel copolymers of the ethylenes and styrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator (AIBN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. High T_g of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. The gravimetric analysis indicated that the copolymers decompose in the 283–306°C range.     

Novel Copolymers of 4-Fluorostyrene. 9. Some Ring-Disubstituted 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes

Novel copolymers of trisubstituted ethylene monomers, ring-disubstituted 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes, RC₆H₃CH=C(CN)₂ (where R = 3-Br-4-CH₃O, 5-Br-2-CH₃O, 2-F-5-CH₃, 2-F-6-CH₃, 3-F-2-CH₃, 3-F-4-CH₃, 4-F-2-CH₃, 4-F-3-CH₃) and 4-fluorostyrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r ₁) for the monomers is 3-F-4-CH₃(1.64) > 5-Br-2-CH₃O (1.62) > 3-Br-4-CH₃O (1.36) > 4-F-2-CH₃(1.3) > 4-F-3-CH₃(1.26) > 3-F-2-CH₃(1.11) > 2-F-5-CH₃ (0.98) > 2-F-6-CH₃ (0.97). High T_g of the copolymers, in comparison with that of poly(4-fluorostyrene) indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 290–400°C range with residue, which then decomposed in 400–800°C range.     

Novel Copolymers of Styrene and Alkoxy Ring‐Substituted 2‐Cyano‐N,N‐Dimethyl‐3‐Phenyl‐2‐Propenamides

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylene monomers, alkoxy ring‐substituted 2‐cyano‐N,N‐dimethyl‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propenamides, RC₆H₄CH?C(CN)CON(CH₃)₂ (where R is 2‐OCH₃, 3‐OCH₃, 4‐OCH₃, 2‐OCH₂CH₃, 3‐OCH₂CH₃, 4‐OCH₂CH₂CH₃, 4‐OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃), were synthesized by potassium hydroxide catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring‐substituted benzaldehydes and N,N‐dimethyl cyanoacetamide, and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR. Novel copolymers of the ethylenes and styrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator, ACBN at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. High T_g of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. The gravimetric analysis indicated that the copolymers decompose in the 300–450°C range.     

Novel Copolymers of 4-Fluorostyrene. 1. Alkyl Ring-Substituted 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes

Novel copolymers of trisubstituted ethylene monomers, alkyl ring-substituted 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes, RC₆H₄CH = C(CN)₂ (where R is 2-methyl, 3-methyl, 4-methyl, 4-ethyl, 4-i-propyl, 4-butyl, 4-i-butyl, and 4-t-butyl) and 4-fluorostyrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. The order of relative reactivity (1/r ₁) for the monomers is 4-ethyl (42.6) > 4-butyl (29.4) > 4-t-butyl (26.7) > 4-i-butyl (1.6) > 4-i-propyl (1.29) > 3-methyl (1.26) > 2-methyl (0.8) > 4-methyl (0.4). High T _g of the copolymers, in comparison with that of poly(4-fluorostyrene) indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in 183–500°C range with residue (5–30% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500–800°C range.     

Novel Copolymers of Styrene and Halogen Ring‐Disubstituted 2‐Cyano‐N,N‐Dimethyl‐3‐Phenyl‐2‐Propenamides

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylene monomers, halogen ring‐disubstituted 2‐cyano‐N,N‐dimethyl‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propenamides, RC₆H₃CH?C(CN)CON(CH₃)₂ (where R is 2,3‐dichloro, 2,4‐dichloro, 2,6‐dichloro, 3,4‐dichloro, 3,5‐dichloro, 2,3‐difluoro, 2,4‐difluoro, 2,6‐difluoro, 3,4‐difluoro, 3,5‐difluoro), were synthesized by potassium hydroxide catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring‐substituted benzaldehydes and N,N‐dimethyl cyanoacetamide, and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR. Novel copolymers of the ethylenes and styrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator, ABCN at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. High T_g of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. The gravimetric analysis indicated that the copolymers decompose in the 300–450°C range.