Synthesis and styrene copolymerization of novel alkoxy ring-substituted tert-butyl phenylcyanoacrylates

Novel alkoxy ring-substituted tert-butyl phenylcyanoacrylates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO2C(CH3)3 (where R is 2-methoxy, 3-methoxy, 4-methoxy, 2-ethoxy, 3-ethoxy, 4-ethoxy, 4-propoxy, 4-butoxy) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The acrylates were synthesized by the piperidine catalyzed Knoevenagel condensation of ring-substituted benzaldehydes and tert-butyl cyanoacetate, and characterized by CHN analysis, IR, 1H and 13C NMR. All the acrylates were radically copolymerized with styrene in solution at 70C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis.