Copolymerization of 2-methyl-N-1,3-thiazole-2-ylacrylamide with glycidyl methacrylate: synthesis, characterization, reactivity ratios and biological activity

The free-radical copolymerization of 2-methyl-N-1,3-thiazole-2-ylacrylamide monomer (TMA) with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was carried out in 1,4-dioxane at 65 ± 1 °C using azobisisobutironitril (AIBN) as an initiator. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹³C-NMR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopic methods. The copolymer compositions were determined by elemental analysis. The weight-average and number-average molecular weights of the copolymers were obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The polydispersity indices of the polymers, determined with gel permeation chromatography, suggested a strong tendency for chain termination by disproportionation. Thermal properties of the polymers were also studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated according to the general copolymerization equation using Kelen–Tudos and Fineman–Ross linearization methods. The reactivity ratios indicated a tendency toward for alternation. The thermal decomposition activation energies of the polymers were evaluated by Ozawa method. The antibacterial and antifungal effects of the copolymers were also investigated on various bacteria and fungi. All the products showed moderate activity against different strains of bacteria and fungi.