Synthesis and characterization of photocrosslinkable functional polymer having pendant chalcone moiety

New methacrylate monomer, 4-methacryloyloxyphenyl-3'-methylstyryl ketone (M PMSK) containing pendant chalcone moiety was synthesized by reacting 4-hydr oxyphenyl-3'-methylstyryl ketone (HPMSK) with methacryloyl chloride in the presence of triethyl amine. The monomer, MPMSK was polymerized in ethyl met hyl ketone solution at 70 +/-1 degreesC at nitrogen atmosphere using benzoy l peroxide as a free radical initiator. The polymer was characterized by UV , FT-IR, H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR| spectra. The molecular weights ((M) over bar (w) and (M) over bar (n)) of the polymer were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The thermal stability of the polymer was measured by therm ogravimetric analysis in air. The glass transition temperature of the polym er was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The photosensitivit y of the polymer was investigated in various solvents in the presence and a bsence of various triplet sensitizers. The effect of solvent on the rate of photocrosslinking of the polymer was also studied. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce BY All rights reserved.