Copolymerization of styrene with vinyl monomers substituted by nitrile and sulfonyl groups

Two trisubstituted vinyl monomers, 2-phenylsulfonyl (crotonitrile) and 2-phenylsulfonyl (cinnamonitrile) were synthesized and characterized by proton NMR, IR, ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectroscopy. Both monomers were copolymerized with styrene by free-radical initiation. The copolymerization parameters of both systems were determined, and the mutual reactivity of the monomers of the two systems is discussed. The new copolymers were characterized by proton NMR and IR spectroscopy, melting range, T_g, and intrinsic viscosity. The influence of the chemical structures of the two comonomers on these two latter properties of the copolymers is discussed.