Synthesis, characterization and properties of polyacrylic systems derived from vitamin E

A methacrylic derivative of the ar-tocopherol (vitamin E), V, has been synthesized and characterized by H-1 and C-13 n.m.r. spectroscopy. The homopolymerization of the new monomer was studied in solution in dimethylformamide at 50 degrees C using AIBN as initiator. The kinetics of polymerization were followed gravimetrically and compared with those obtained for 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate polymerized in the same conditions. Copolymers of the novel methacrylate with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, H, were obtained in a range of feed composition between 5 and 20 mol%. The reactivity ratios were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation from composition data of copolymer samples determined by H-1 n.m.r. spectroscopy and by using both the linearization method and non-linear least squares analysis. The values obtained indicate that this system seems to fit a typical statistical copolymerization. Molecular weight and glass transition temperature of the copolymers increased with increasing vitamin E methacrylate content. It was observed that the values of the glass transition temperature were influenced by the sequential distribution of the comonomeric units. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.