Synthesis of poly(N-Phenylmaleimide-Co-p-Epoxystyrene-Co-Styrene)

Abstract

The synthesis of poly (N-phenylmaleimide-co-p-epoxy-styrene-co-styrene was started with the synthesis of two monomers, N-phenylmaleimide and p-chloromethylstyrene. The reaction of aniline and maleic anhydride afforded maleanilic acid and then was converted to N-phenylmaleimide by acetic anhydride. p-Chloromethylstyrene was obtained from chloro-methylation of 2-phenylethyl bromide and subsequent dehydro-bromination. Then, copolymerization of p-choromethylstyrene, styrene and N-phenylmaleimide was carried out. The percentage of N-phenylmaleimide was varied as 0, 5, 10, 25 and 50% by mole. Consequently, the chloromethyl group was converted to carboxaldehyde group and, finally, underwent epoxidation to form the epoxide group. The results showed that the more percentage of N-phenylmaleimide in the copolymers, the higher glass transition temperature (T[subscript g]) was. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by the spectroscopic technique.