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

Kinetics of radically initiated solution homopolymerization of 4-vinyl benzylamine (VBA) and its trifluoroacetamide derivative (VBAF), and th eir copolymerization with styrene (S), have been investigated at 60-de grees-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 VBA F than for VBA and styrene. The reactivity ratios were determined to b e 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 theoret ical ones; in addition, comparison of the molecular weights of both se ries of copolymers, as obtained from GPC, suggests that the VBA monome r can act as a relatively efficient chain transfer agent.