Novel copolymers of styrene. 15. Halogen ring-disubstituted propyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates

Novel halogen ring-disubstituted propyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO2C3H7 (where R is 2-fluoro-5-methyl, 3-iodo-4-methoxy, 5-iodo-2-methoxy, 3,5-dichloro, 3,4-difluoro, 3,5-difluoro, 2-chloro-4-fluoro, 2-chloro-6-fluoro, 3-chloro-2-fluoro, and 3-chloro-4-fluoro) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The propenoates were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-disubstituted benzaldehydes and propyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR. All the propenoates were copolymerized with styrene (M1) 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 and 13C-NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. Decomposition of the copolymers in nitrogen occurred in two steps, first in the 200-500ºC range with residue (1-3% wt.), which then decomposed in the 500-800ºC range.