Copolymers with pendant N-arylimide groups via atom transfer radical polymerization: Synthesis, characterization and kinetic study

Abstract

Random and random-block copolymers of methyl methacrylate with N-arylitaconimide monomer (N-(4-chlorophenyl)itaconimide, N-phenylitaconimide, and N-(4-methoxyphenyl)itaconimide) have been synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization process with N-arylimide as the pendant group and characterized by different techniques. A 60-80 percent enhancement in softening temperature of these copolymers was observed as compared to poly(methyl methacrylate). The living mechanism was confirmed by the linear rise of number average molecular weight with conversion.