Preparation and thermal degradation of 4-benzene sulfonylbenzyl methacrylate

The preparation and polymerisation of 4-benzenesulfonylbenzyl methacrylate are described. Thermal degradation of poly(4- benzenesulfonylbenzyl methacr ylate) [poly(BSBzMA)] was studied by thermogravimetry (TG), FT-IR and NMR. Programmed heating was carried out at 10 degrees C/min(-1) from room temper ature to 500 degrees C. Residual products of poly(BSBzMA) at various temper atures were examined by FT-IR spectroscopy. The cold ring fraction (CRF) of products volatile at degradation temperature but not at ambient temperatur es has been characterized by GC-MS, FT-IR,C-13 and H-1 NMR techniques. The main products in thermal degradation of poly(BSBzMA) are 4-benzenesulfonylb enzyl methacrylate and 4-benzenesulfonyl toluene. The other liquid products of the degradation formation of anhydride ring structures and mechanism of degradation are discussed. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.