Azobisisobutyronitrile → Maleimide styrene

Participants

Reaction Steps

Maleimide-styrene copolymer was prepared by copolymerizing, in a sealed tube and in the absence of air, 4.00 g of maleimide (obtained from Eastman Kodak) with 4.29 g of styrene (obtained from Fischer Scientific) dissolved in a suitable solvent. Azobisisobutyronitrile (42 mg) was used as the initiator. The tube containing the reaction mixture was deoxygenated with argon for 10 mins. The tube was sealed and heated in an oven, in a solvent, for a reaction time, and at the temperature as shown in Table III to obtain copolymers of different molecular weights. In Runs #3 and 5, 0.27 g of dodecanethiol, a chain transfer agent, was added to the reaction mixture before heating to lower the molecular weight.

Provenance & Evidence