Radical copolymerization of methyl α-acyloxyacrylates with some vinyl monomers

Radical copolymerization of some methyl alpha-acyloxyacrylates and vinyl monomers 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 reactivity of the acrylates towards the propagating radicals of styrene in copolymerization is correlated to the modified Taft equation considering the steric 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 increase with increasing Q values of the vinyl monomers. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.