Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylenes, ring-substituted ethyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO2C2H5 (where Ris 3-ethoxy, 4-ethoxy, 4-propoxy, 4-butoxy, 4-hexyloxy, 3-phenoxy) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The monomers were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and ethyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN analysis, IR, 1H and 13C-NMR. All the ethylenes were copolymerized with styrene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70�C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR, 1H and 13C-NMR. Relatively high Tgof 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 250�500�C range with residue (3-8% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500-800�C range.

Novel functional copolymers of styrene and oxy ring-substituted ethyl cyanopropenoates

245th National Meeting (2013)

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