NMR of the formation of cyclic imide on poly(methacrylic acid)

Summary The reaction of syndiotactic poly (methacrylic acid) and formamide above 100C yields a syndiotactic copolymer of methacrylic acid and dimethacryloylimide. The ₁₃C-NMR spectra of the copolymers show resolved -CH₃ and C=O resonances which are evaluated to yield the triad probabilities. The triad statistics prove a nearly random formation of the cyclic imide along the polymer chain.