The preparation and properties of zinc coordination complexes of poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-n-butyl methacrylate) copolymers

Two poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-n-butyl methacrylate) copolymers containing 14.2 and 30.0 mol% of 4-vinylpyridine residues were prepared by free radical copolymerization reactions. Insoluble complexes were obtained for each copolymer by reaction with zinc chloride. The coordination complexes obtained had a molar ratio of 4-vinylpyridine residues to zinc atoms close to 2 in both cases. The rheological behavior of each of these complexes has been compared to that of the corresponding metal-free copolymers, which were recovered by decomplexation. The metal complexed polymers exhibited much higher glass transition temperatures and much longer high temperature relaxation times than the corresponding uncomplexed copolymers.