Statistical copolymers of styrene and 2-vinylpyridine with trimethylsilyl methacrylate and trimethylsilyloxyethyl methacrylate

Statistical copolymers of styrene with trimethylsilyl methacrylate, STMS, and trimethylsilyloxyethyl methacrylate, STME, and of 2-vinylpyridine with trimethylsilyloxyethyl methacrylate, VTME were prepared by free radical copolymerization in benzene with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, AIBN. The reactivity ratios of the different monomers were estimated using the Finemann–Ross, the inverted Finemann–Ross, and the Kelen–Tüdos or the extended Kelen–Tüdos graphical methods. Structural parameters of the copolymers were obtained by calculating the diad sequence fractions, which were derived using the monomer reactivity ratios. The results were compared with those obtained from the copolymerization of styrene and 2-vinylpyridine with methacrylic acid and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate.