| Abstract: | 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 RαI]0.5MMA]1.0Lim.]?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. |
