The influence of molecular interactions on polymerization—IV: Copolymerization of 2-naphthyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate in solvents with different dielectric constants

The copolymerization of 2-naphthyl methacrylate (2-NM) with methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by 2,2′-azoisobutyronitrile in carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, benzene, acetone and acetonitrile was investigated. The reactivity ratios determined by the methods of Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tüdős are: in carbon tetrachloride—r_2-NM = 2.46 ± 0.25, r_MMA = 0.61 ± 0.06; chloroform—r_2-NM = 2.71 ± 0.30, r_MMA = 0.60 ± 0.06; benzene—r_2-NM = 2.62 ± 0.44, r_MMA = 0.63 ± 0.11; acetone—r_2-NM = 4.13 ± 0.45, r_MMA = 0.60 ± 0.06 and acetonitrile—r_2-NM = 3.70 ± 0.30, r_MMA = 0.62 ± 0.05.The dependence of the reactivity ratios on the solvent is explained on the basis of formation of complexes between the electron-donating naphthalene rings and the electron-accepting methacrylic double bonds, as indicated by NMR studies.