Alternating Copolymers of Limonene with Methyl Methacrylate: Kinetics and Mechanism

The radical copolymerization of limonene (optically active) with methyl methacrylate in xylene at 80±0.1°C for 1 hr, initiated by benzoyl peroxide (BPO) yield alternating copolymer(s), under the inert atmosphere of nitrogen, as evidenced by reactivity ratios r₁ (MMA)=0.07 and r₂ (limonene)=0.012 using the Kelen–Tüdos method. The kinetic expression is Rα[I]^0.5[MMA]^1.0[Lim.]^?1.0. The decrease in the rate of polymerization with increase in concentration of limonene is due to penultimate unit effect. The overall energy of activation is calculated as 49 kJ/mole. FTIR of the copolymer(s) shows the characteristic frequencies at 1732.40 and 2951.40 cm^?1 due to –OCH₃ of MMA and aromatic C–H stretching of limonene, respectively. ¹H NMR spectra shows peak at 3.8–4.1 δ and 5.3–5.6 δ due to –OCH₃ of MMA and trisubstituted olefinic protons [–CH=CH–CH₂–] of limonene, respectively.