Synthesis, polymerization and Cu complexation studies of a new styrene derivative of 2-hydroxyacetophenone

A new 5-vinyl-2-hydroxyacetophenone monomer was synthesized using Heck reaction. The monomer was obtained by reacting 5-bromo-2-hydroxyacetophenone with ethylene in a palladium catalyzed reaction. Better yield was obtained at low concentration of the catalyst, high temperature and pressure of the ethylene gas. The monomer was homopolymerized and copolymerized with styrene using free radical solution polymerization techniques and investigated for reactivity ratio, retardation effect of the monomer on the polymerization of styrene. Homopolymer with average molecular weight of 40,391 was found to form binuclear complex with Cu²⁺. The complex was evident from shift in n-π^* transition from 332-378 nm in UV region and appearance of strong absorption at 1578 cm⁻¹ in the IR of the precipitated complex.