COMPLEX-RADICAL TERPOLYMERIZATION OF PHENANTHRENE, MALEIC-ANHYDRIDE, AND TRANS-STILBENE

The radical terpolymerization of the donor-acceptor-donor monomer syst em, phenanthrene (P) - maleic anhydride (M) - trans-stilbene (S), was studied. These monomers are known to be nonhomopolymerizable. The terp olymerization was carried out in p-dioxane and/or toluene at 70-degree s-C in the presence of benzoyl peroxide used as the initiator. P and S were found to form charge transfer complexes (CTC) with M in p-dioxan e at 35-degrees-C. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the free monomer and complex propagation models. It is shown that terpolym erization is carried out at a stage close to binary copolymerization o f two complexomers. The reactivity ratio of P. . .M and S. . .M comple xes was estimated by the Kelen-Tudos method. Absorbance ratios at 1770 cm-1 (upsilon(C = 0) of anhydride group), 764 cm-1 (delta(CH) in mono substituted benzene of S), and 820 cm-1 (delta(CH) in disubstituted be nzene of P) as a function of terpolymer composition was established. P -M-S terpolymers are shown to have high thermal stabilities. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.