Radical copolymerization of methyl alpha-acyloxyacrylates with some vinyl monomers

Radical copolymerization of some methyl alpha-acyloxyacrylates and vinyl mo nomers has been studied using an azo initiator in benzene at 60 degrees C. It is found that the Q and e values of methyl alpha-acyloxyacrylates are in the ranges 0.47-1.65 and 0.51-0.99, respectively, and the relative reactiv ity of the acrylates towards the propagating radicals of styrene in copolym erization is correlated to the modified Taft equation considering the steri c and electronic effects. Copolymerization of methyl alpha-acetoxyacrylate and vinyl monomers shows that the relative reactivity of the vinyl monomers for the attack of poly (methyl alpha-acetoxyacrylate) radical tends to inc rease with increasing Q values of the vinyl monomers. (C) 1999 Society of C hemical Industry.