| Abstract: | Novel electrophilic trisubstituted ethylene monomers, oxy ring-disubstituted 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenamides, RC6H3CH? C(CN)CONH2 (where R is 2,3-(CH3O)2, 2,4-(CH3O)2, 2,5-(CH3O)2, 2,6-(CH3O)2, 3,4-(CH3O)2, 3,5-(CH3O)2, 3-CH3?4-CH3O, 3-C2H5O-4-CH3O, 3,4-(C6H5CH2O)2, 2-C6H5CH2O-3-CH3O, 3-C6H5CH2O-4-CH3O, 4-C6H5CH2O-3-CH3O) were synthesized by potassium hydroxide catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-disubstituted benzaldehydes and cyanoacetamide, and characterized by CHN analysis, IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR. Novel copolymers of the ethylenes and styrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator, AIBN at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR. High Tg of the copolymers in comparison with that of polystyrene indicates a decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer unit. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 300–500°C range with residue (2–9% wt), which then decomposed in the 500–800°C range. |
