Copolymerization of methacrylic acid with methyl methacrylate on a polyethylene glycol matrix

Copolymerization of methacrylic acid with ¹⁴C]-methyl methacrylate was carried out in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a matrix. Composition and structure of complexes were determined using NMR techniques and radiometric measurements. It was found that the complexes consist of copolymer and PEG. Dependence of the composition of the copolymer on the composition of the initial mixture of monomers was examined. The reactivity ratios were calculated and compared with those for copolymerization without matrix. It was found that the influence of polyethylene glycol results in changing reactivity ratios of comonomers and kinetics of the process.