Thermal properties of N-substituted 4-vinylpyridinium ions and their polymers

4-Vinylpyridinium trifluoromethanesulfonate monomers substituted at nitrogen with H, O, CH₃, C₂H₅, C₆H₁₃, and C₁₂H₂₅ were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. Thermal analyses (DSC and TGA) were carried out on all the compounds. The solid monomers (N? H, N? CH₃, N? C₆H₁₃, and N? C₁₂H₂₅) exhibited endothermic melting followed by exothermic polymerization and exothermic decomposition (>400°C). Liquid N? C₂H₅ monomer revealed only exothermic polymerization and decomposition. The N? O polymer underwent thermal decomposition below 300°C. The N–C₁₂H₂₅ homopolymer, prepared from monomer in the DSC or in bulk, displayed an unusual thermal transition at 250°C, which has been attributed to a polymer backbone reorientation leading to side-chain ordering of the dodecyl groups.