COPOLYMERIZATIONS OF VARIOUS RING-FLUORINATED STILBENES WITH STYRENE

The E-isomers of 2-, 3- and 4-fluorostilbene and 4,4'-difluorostilbene and also the Z-isomers of 4-fluorostilbene have been examined as como nomers in the radical polymerization of styrene at 60-degrees-C. The l ow levels of incorporation of the fluoro-compounds have been measured by consideration of the 19F-NMR spectra of the copolymers, using fluor obenzene as an internal standard. The reactivities of the various fluo rostilbenes towards the polystyrene radical are discussed and compared with those towards the benzoyloxy radical.