The anionic copolymerization behavior of the styrene: p-tert-butylstyrene and styrene:p-methylstyrene monomer pairs in benzene

Summary The anionic copolymerization of styrene:p-tert-butylstyrene and styrene:p-methylstyrene has been studied. In benzene, near statistical copolymers can be formed at 20°C when the lithium counter-ion is used. The addition of tetrahydrofuran (THF) is known to disrupt chain end association. The addition of THF(THF/Active center = 10) to the sytrene:p-tert-butylstyrene system led to virtually no change in the reactivity ratios.