Radical copolymerization of ethylene glycol bis(methyl fumarate) with N-vinylcarbazole

Summary For the purpose of elucidating copolymerizability of ethylene glycol bis(methyl fumarate), a new multifunctional monomer, its free-radical Copolymerization with N-vinylcarbazole has been studied. The results show that free-radical Copolymerization of ethylene glycol bis(methyl fumarate) with N-vinylcarbazole produces soluble copolymers at low conversions, the compositions of which vary from 1∶1 to increasingly VCZ rich (below 2.0) with an increase in the VCZ content in the monomer feed. It is suggested that 1∶1 alternating Copolymerization proceeds and that cyclo-propagation becomes predominant when the monomer feed composition becomes rich in VCZ. Gelation occurs at relatively high conversions.