Synthesis, characterization and molecular modeling of new methacrylamide-containing monomer and polymers

In this study, N- (4-nitrophenyl) methacrylamide (NPMA) monomer was synthesized by reaction with methacryloyl chloride in the presence of 4-nitroaniline and triethylamine. The homopolymer of NPMA and NPMA copolymer poly(NPMA-co-LIM) were synthesized by free radical chain polymerization reaction. Characterization of the synthesized poly(NPMA) homopolymer was made by FT-IR, 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopic methods, while characterization of poly(NPMA-co-LIM) copolymer was made by FT-IR and 1H-NMR spectroscopic methods. The molecular weights of homo and copolymer were determined by GPC and, thermal characterization was investigated by TGA, DTA and DTG thermal analysis methods. Geometric parameters of NPMA monomer, poly(NPMA) and poly(NPMA-co-LIM) polymers (bond lengths, bond angles and dihedral angles), optimized geometric parameters, FT-IR and NMR spectra, energy values of HOMO and LUMO orbitals, ionization chemical parameters such as energy, electronegativities, chemical hardness, chemical potential and electrophilicity, molecular calculations like molecular electrostatic potential were performed with Gaussian 09W package program and Gauss View 5.0 interface with DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p) and HF/6-311++G(d, p) methods, and outcomes were compared with experimental data.