Synthesis and Styrene Copolymerization of Novel Trisubstituted Ethylenes: 1. Alkyl Ring-Substituted 2-Methoxyethyl Phenylcyanoacrylates

Abstract

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