The free radical copolymerization of a vinyl-terminated hydrocarbon macromonomer, namely poly-1-butene with molecular weight 1,000, with methyl acrylate (MA) led to copolymers with broad molecular weight distributions, and even bimodal character. In the presence of alkylaluminum chloride Lewis acids, higher incorporation of MA was obtained. The polymer MW and mole% MA in the copolymer increase with their decreasing Lewis acid strength. The best result was obtained in the presence of 25 mole% Et,AICl versus MA at 60 "C which led to 82% of the polyhydrocarbon chains being derivatized and unimodal MW distribution. For the copolymerization of the polyhydrocarbon macromonomer and AN, the best results were obtained without Lewis acid in toluene using a free radical initiator at 125 "C.The model compound 2,2,4-trimethyl-l-pentene copolymerizes with both MA and AN in standard free radical conditions and the copolymerization parameters were determined.