Synthesis and solution properties of poly(diphenyl itaconate)

Solid diphenyl itaconate monomer was obtained by esterification in the presence of diphosphorus pentoxide and polymerized in bulk with AIBN as initiator. The non-film forming polymer powder was characterized by fractionation, viscosity measurements, light scattering and other techniques. The relation [n] = 3·6 × 10^?3$\text{M}$^0·70_w, obtained for toluene at 25° was extrapolated to θ-conditions by various procedures: the σ-value of 2·60 for unperturbed dimensions indicates a less pronounced influence of phenyl compared with other C₆ hydrocarbon substitutes.