Synthesis, characterization and reactivity ratios of poly N-(p-bromophenyl)-2-methacrylamide-Co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone

The methacrylamide monomer, N-(p-bromophenyl)-2-methacrylamide (PBPMA) was synthesized by reacting p-bromoaniline dissolved in ethylmethylketone (EMK) with methacryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. The copolymers of PBPMA with N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) were synthesized by free radical solution polymerization using EMK as a solvent at 70 ± 1 °C and benzoyl peroxide as a free radical initiator. The copolymerization behavior was studied in a wide composition interval with the mole fractions of PBPMA ranging from 0.20 to 0.80 in the feed. The copolymers were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and GPC. The solubility was tested in various polar and non polar solvents. The thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers showed that the thermal stability of the copolymer increases with PBPMA content. The copolymer composition was determined by elemental analysis. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined by the application of conventional linearization methods such as Fineman–Ross, Kelen–Tudos methods, and a non-linear error-in-variable model (EVM) method using a computer program.