Copolymerization and monomer reactivity ratios of 2-(3-mesityl-3-methylcyclobutyl)-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with acrylonitrile

The free radical copolymerization of 2-3-(mesityl-3-methylcyclobutyl)-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (MCHEMA) with acrylonitrile (AN) has been carried out in 1,4-dioxane at 60°C. The copolymers were characterized by infrared, 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopic methods. The copolymer compositions were established by elemental analysis. The reactivity ratios of copolymerization were computed by using the Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tüdős methods, and were found to be r1=0.29±0.002, r2=0.98±0.003 and r1=0.21±0.009, r2=0.75±0.003, respectively (r2 is reactivity ratios of MCHEMA). The glass transition temperature and thermal decomposition temperature were investigated by DSC-50 and TGA-50 thermobalance, respectively. The solubility parameters and densities of all the copolymers were determined.