Novel functional copolymers of vinyl acetate: 1. Alkyl ring-substituted ethyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates

Abstract

Alkyl ring-substituted ethyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO2C2H5 (where R is 2-methyl, 3-methyl, 4-methyl, 4-ethyl, 4-isopropyl, 4-t-butyl, 4-trifluoromethyl, 2-trifluoromethyl) were prepared and copolymerized with vinyl acetate in solution with radical initiation. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis and the structures were analyzed by IR, 1H and 13C-NMR. Thermal behavior of the copolymers was studied by DSC and TGA. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200-500ºC range with residue (13-16 wt%), which then decomposed in the 500-800ºC range.