Alternating copolymers from the radical copolymerization of citraconic derivatives with isobutyl vinyl ether

Abstract

AbstractRadical copolymerization of citraconic anhydride (CAn) with isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) was studied as well as the copolymerizations of N‐alkylcitraconimides, dialkyl citraconates and mesaconates with IBVE. All the copolymerizations attempted except one, incorporating N‐alkylcitraconimide, were found to give alternating copolymers with molecular weights of more than 10,000 in most cases. Of all the copolymerizations, the CAn‐IBVE system showed the highest reactivity. A charge transfer complex between these two monomers was confirmed to exist in this system. The equilibrium constant of the complex formation was determined by UV spectroscopy as 0–162 litre/mol in CHCl3 at 15°C.The alternating copolymer obtained from CAn with IBVE was converted to the corresponding copolymer of dialkyl citraconate by esterification.