Copolymerizations of N-arylmaleamic acids with styrene and butadiene

N-(3-Dimethylamino-6-methylphenyl)maleamic (I) and N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)maleamic (II) acids were prepared; their radical copolymerizations with styrene and butadiene were investigated. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined and the Alfrey-Price copolymerization constants (e, Q) were calculated. The ratio of the average kinetic chain length to the number-average degree of polymerization indicates pronounced chain transfer to I and II. Inhibitors of radical polymerization stopped the copolymerizations of I and II with styrene but not those with butadiene.