Synthesis and styrene copolymerization of novel trisubstituted ethylenes: 2. Alkoxy ring-substituted octyl phenylcyanoacrylates

Novel trisubstituted ethylenes, alkoxy ring-substituted octyl phenylcyanoacrylates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO₂CH₂(CH₂)₆CH₃ (where R is 2-methoxy, 3-methoxy, 4-methoxy, 2-ethoxy, 3-ethoxy, 4-ethoxy, 4-propoxy, 4-butoxy, 4-hexyloxy) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The ethylenes were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and octyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN analysis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR. All the ethylenes were copolymerized with styrene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis.