Monomer reactivity ratios of the 2-(3-mesityl-3-methylcyclobutyl)-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and styrene system from 1H NMR

2‐(3‐Mesityl‐3‐methylcyclobutyl)‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (MCHEMA) was prepared from the reaction of methacrylic acid with the oxirane compound obtained from the chlorhydrin formed in the cyclization of 1‐chloro‐2,3‐epoxy‐5‐methyl‐5‐hexene. Copolymers of MCHEMA and styrene were prepared in 1,4‐dioxane solution at 60 °C using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. They were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra. Their compositions were determined by the 1H NMR technique. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined by the Fineman–Ross, Kelen, Tüdös, and Yezrielev–Brokhina–Roskin method. Thermogravimetric analysis of the copolymers was carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere. The glass‐transition temperature of the copolymers as determined by differential scanning calorimetry agreed with the Flory–Fox relationship. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1756–1763, 2002 In this study, 2‐(3‐mesityl‐3‐methylcyclobutyl)‐2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (MCHEMA) was prepared from the reaction of methacrylic acid with the oxirane compound obtained from the chlorhydrin formed in the cyclization of 1‐chloro‐2,3‐epoxy‐5‐methyl‐5‐hexene. Copolymers of MCHEMA and styrene (STY) were prepared in 1,4‐dioxane solution at 60 °C using 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. They were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra. Their compositions were determined by 1H NMR technique. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined by the Fineman–Ross, Kelen–Tüdös, Yezrielev–Brokhina–Roskin method. Thermogravimetric analysis of the copolymers were carried out under a nitrogen atmosphere. The Tg of the copolymers as determined by differential scanning calorimetry agree with the Flory–Fox relationship.