Synthesis, characterization of poly (4-benzyloxyphenylmethacrylate) and its copolymer with butyl methacrylate and determination of monomer reactivity ratios

The monomer 4-benzyloxyphenylmethacrylate (4-BOPMA) was synthesized by reacting 4-benzyloxy phenol dissolved in methylethylketone (MEK) with methacryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. The homopolymer and various copolymers of 4-BOPMA with butylmethacrylate (BMA) were synthesized by the free radical polymerization in MEK at 70 ± 1 °C in nitrogen atmosphere using benzoylperoxide as initiator. The homopolymer and copolymers were characterized by various spectral techniques like IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The molecular weights of the polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The glass transition temperatures of polymers were determined by differential scanning calorimeter. The thermal stability of the polymers was performed by thermo gravimetric analysis in inert atmosphere. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined using the conventional linearization methods such as Fineman–Ross (r₁ = 0.438, r₂ = 0.2323), Kelen Tüdös (r₁ = 0.4648, r₂ = 0.2992) and extended Kelen Tüdös (r₁ = 0.4489, r₂ = 0.2616).