<p>Novel trisubstituted ethylenes, , alkyl ring-substituted octyl phenylcyanoacrylates,
RPhCH=C(CN)CO<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>(CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>6</sub>CH<sub>3</sub><sub> </sub>(where R is H, 2-methyl,
3-methyl, 4-methyl, 4-ethyl, 4-propyl, 4-<i>i</i>-propyl,
4-butyl, 4-<i>t</i>-butyl, 4-<i>i</i>-butyl) were
prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The ethylenes were synthesized by the
piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes
and octyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN analysis, IR, <sup>1</sup>H
and <sup>13</sup>C 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.</p>