EFFECT OF COMPLEX-FORMATION ON THE COPOLY MERIZATION OF FUMARONITRILEWITH VINYLPHENYL ESTER

The kinetics of alternating radical copolymerization of vinylphenyl es ter with fumaronitrile was studied by IR spectroscopy and quantum-chem ical methods. Interaction of the double bond of fumaronitrile With the pi-system of benzene ring in a planar conformation of ester leads to the formation of a donor-acceptor complex between monomers. This accou nts for lower reactivity of monomers in the complex as compared to tha t of the free monomer molecules. The polymer chain propagation occurs by alternating addition of free I monomers to the reactive end of the chain.