Novel copolymers of styrene. 10. Bromo and chloro ring-disubstituted propyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates.

Novel trisubstituted ethylenes, ring-disubstituted propyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates, RPhCH = C(CN)CO2C3H7(where R is 2-bromo-4-methyl, 2-chloro-6-methyl, 3-chloro-4-methyl, 2,5-dibromo, 3,5-dibromo, 2,3-dichloro, and 2,4-dichloro) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The monomers were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and propyl cyanoacetate and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR,1H and13C-NMR. All the ethylenes were copolymerized with styrene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the structures were analyzed by IR,1H and13C-NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200-500°C range with residue (7-12% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500-800°C range. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]