<p>Novel oxy ring-substituted isopropyl 2-cyano-3-arylacrylates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO₂CH(CH₃)₂(where R is 3,4-dibenzyloxy, 3-benzyloxy-4-methoxy, 4-benzyloxy-3-methoxy, 2,3-methylenedioxy, 3-iodo-4-methoxy, 5-iodo-2-methoxy, 3,4-difluoro, 3,5-difluoro) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The acrylates were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-disubstituted benzaldehydes and isopropyl cyanoacetate and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. All the acrylates 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 FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. Thermal properties of the copolymers are characterized by DSC and TGA. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200-500ºC range with a residue, which then decomposed in the 500-800ºC range.</p>

<p>Novel trisubstituted ethylenes, ring-disubstituted isopropyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO₂CH(CH₃)₂(where R is 2-bromo-5-methoxy, 3-bromo-4-methoxy, 5-bromo-2-methoxy, 2-chloro-3-methoxy, 3-chloro-4-methoxy, 2-chloro-6-methyl, 2-fluoro-6-methyl, 3-fluoro-2-methyl, 3-fluoro-4-methyl, 4-fluoro-2-methyl, 4-fluoro-3-methyl) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The monomers were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and isopropyl cyanoacetate and characterized by CHN elemental 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, GPC, DSC, and TGA. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200-500ºC range with residue (1-8% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500-800ºC range.</p>

<p>Novel ring-disubstituted isobutyl phenylcyanoacrylates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO₂CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ (where R is 2,3-difluoro, 2,4-difluoro, 2,6-difluoro, 3,4-difluoro, 3,5-difluoro, 2-chloro-4-fluoro, 2-chloro-6-fluoro, 3-chloro-2-fluoro, 3-chloro-4-fluoro, 4-chloro-3-fluoro) were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-disubstituted benzaldehydes and isobutyl cyanoacetate and characterized by CHN analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The acrylates were copolymerized with styrene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis.</p>

<p>Novel oxy ring-substituted isopropyl 2-cyano-3-arylacrylates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO₂CH(CH₃)₂(where R is 3,4-dibenzyloxy, 3-benzyloxy-4-methoxy, 4-benzyloxy-3-methoxy, 2,3-methylenedioxy, 3-iodo-4-methoxy, 5-iodo-2-methoxy, 3,4-difluoro, 3,5-difluoro) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The acrylates were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-disubstituted benzaldehydes and isopropyl cyanoacetate and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. All the acrylates 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 FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR. Thermal properties of the copolymers are characterized by DSC and TGA. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200-500ºC range with a residue, which then decomposed in the 500-800ºC range.</p>

Novel trisubstituted ethylenes, alkoxy ring-substituted isopropyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates, RPhCH = C(CN)CO2CH(CH3)2 (where R is 2-methoxy, 3-methoxy, 4-methoxy, 2-ethoxy, 3-ethoxy, 4-ethoxy, 4-propoxy, 4-butoxy, 4-hexyloxy) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The ethylenes were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and isopropyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN analysis, FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR. All the ethylenes were copolymerized with styrene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis and the structures were analyzed by FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 250-500ºC range with residue (2.6–3.9% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500-800ºC range.