1. Highly Functionalized Macromolecules Based on Free Radical Polymerization of Substituted Stilbene Monomers
S. Richard Turner, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
We prepared several methyl substituted (E)-stilbene monomers and copolymerized them with maleic anhydride.
Significant difference in the rates of polymerization with maleic anhydride indicates the methyl substituents can change:
reactivity of stilbene by changing the resonance stability of the propagating radical
steric hindrance in the propagation step
Size exclusion chromatography traces for poly((E)-4-methylstilbene-alt-maleic anhydride) exhibited bimodal peaks. Dynamic light scattering analysis confirmed the formation of interchain aggregates. We are investigating origin and scope of this aggregation phenomenon in the stilbene system.
Stilbene: R1=H, R2=H, R3=H
2,2’-Dimethylstilbene: R1, R2=Me, R3=H
2-Methylstilbene: R1=Me, R2=H, R3=H
4-Methylstilbene: R1=H, R2=H, R3=Me
We are preparing a group of novel rigid polyelectrolytes with tunable charges and charge densities by using different combinations of the donor-acceptor comonomer pairs. One of the polyanion precursors we have prepared is poly(di-t-butyl-trans-4,4’-stilbenedicarboxylate-co-t-butyl-4-maleimidobenzoate).