RADICALLY INITIATED COPOLYMERS OF STYRENE WITH 4-VINYLBENZYLAMINE AND ITS TRIFLUOROACETAMIDE DERIVATIVE .1. KINETIC-STUDIES OF SOLUTION POLYMERIZATION

Kinetics of radically initiated solution homopolymerization of 4-vinylbenzylamine (VBA) and its trifluoroacetamide derivative (VBAF), and their copolymerization with styrene (S), have been investigated at 60-degrees-C in toluene and DMSO, respectively, using AIBN as initiator. k(p)/k(t)1/2 values were first estimated, showing a higher value for VBAF than for VBA and styrene. The reactivity ratios were determined to be r(VBA) = 2,15, r(S) = 0,45 for the VBA/S system and r(VBAF) = 0,93, r(S) = 1,03 for the VBAF/S one. This indicates that the reactivity of VBA is higher than that of styrene, but it is significantly lower when VBA is in its protected form (i. e. VBAF), which is well reflected in the Q, e values. Average copolymer compositions, as characterized by H-1 NMR and elemental analysis, are in good agreement with the theoretical ones; in addition, comparison of the molecular weights of both series of copolymers, as obtained from GPC, suggests that the VBA monomer can act as a relatively efficient chain transfer agent.