PREPARATION AND VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF COPOLYMERS OF 2,3-DIMETHYLBUTADIENE AND METHYL-METHACRYLATE

The preparation and vibrational spectroscopic characterization of the hitherto unreported products of the copolymerization of 2,3-dimethylbu tadiene and methyl methacrylate are presented. The polymers were prepa red by free radical polymerization using alpha,alpha'-azobisisobutyron itrile as the initiator. Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectros copic information on the 2,3-dimethylbutadiene-methyl methacrylate cop olymer is presented for a range of copolymers differing in the 2,3-dim ethylbutadiene to methyl methacrylate ratio. Quantitative information of the microstructure of the polymer and copolymer using the C=C stret ching vibrations is provided by Raman spectroscopy. Evidence is presen ted for the splitting of the C=O stretching vibration, ascribed to agg regated syndiotactic and unaggregated syndio- and isotactic poly(methy l methacrylate) at 1734 and 1724 cm-1, respectively.