Free-radical copolymerization of 2-[3-(6-tetralino)-3-methylcyclobutyl]-2-ketoethyl methacrylate with acrylonitrile and styrene: Synthesis, characterization, and monomer reactivity ratios

The copolymerization of the monomer 2‐[3‐(6‐tetralino)‐3‐methylcyclobutyl]‐2‐ketoethyl methacrylate with acrylonitrile and styrene was carried out in a 1,4‐dioxane solution at 60°C with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The copolymers were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, 1H‐NMR, and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy techniques. The thermal properties of the polymers were also studied with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The copolymer compositions were determined with elemental analysis and 1H‐NMR techniques. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated by the application of conventional linearization methods (Fineman–Ross and Kelen–Tüdös) to be less than 1 for both monomers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1979–1986, 2007