Calculation of Reactivity Ratios and Sequence Distributions in Copolymers from Monomers 13C-NMR Data

A screening procedure has been developed to predict the average sequence distribution in vinyl copolymers from monomer ¹³C-NMR data. The ¹³C-NMR absorption frequencies of the carbon atoms of the polymerizable double bond are used to calculate the Alfrey-Price Q and e values as previously described by Borchardt and Dalrymple. These, in turn, are used to calculate the monomer reactivity ratios. Reactivity ratios for 54 copolymerizations were calculated by this procedure and compared to literature values. The copolymer sequence distribution may then be determined by means of a computer program written by Harwood. The sequence distribution in copolymers of methacrylic acid and dimethyl-aminoethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate, 1,1-dichloroethylene and methacrylonitrile, ethyl acrylate and n-butyl methacrylate, and acrylamide and sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate were calculated from reactivity ratios derived from ¹³C-NMR data and compared to literature values. This procedure may be used to calculate the reactivity ratios from ¹³C-NMR spectra of monomers for which no Q and e values are known. By this method the average sequence distribution of such monomers in copolymers may be predicted, significantly reducing the number of copolymers to be synthesized and tested for use in various applications.