Synthesis and styrene copolymerization of novel ring-monosubstituted octyl phenylcyanoacrylates

Novel ring-monosubstituted octyl phenylcyanoacrylates, RPhCH=C(CN)CO2CH2(CH2)6CH3 (where R is 2-(4-chlorophenoxy), 3-(4-methoxyphenoxy), 4-(4-methoxyphenoxy), 4-acetoxy, 4-acetamido, 4-cyano, 4-dimethylamino, 4-diethylamino, 2-bromo, 3-bromo, 2-trifluoromethyl, 3-trifluoromethyl, 4-trifluoromethyl, 3-trifluoromethoxy, 4-trifluoromethoxy) were prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The acrylates 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 acrylates were copolymerized with styrene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70C. The compositions of the copolymers were calculated from nitrogen analysis.