Synthesis and characterization of a chalcone based methacrylate monomer, its homopolymer and copolymers

In this study, 4-methacryloyloxyphenyl-4'-methoxystyryl ketone (MPMSK) monomer was synthesized 4-hydroxyphenyl-4'-methoxystyryl ketone and methacryloyl chloride in THF solvent at 0-5 ºC in the presence of triethylamine. The structure of monomer was characterized by FT-IR and 1H-MNR spectroscopic techiques. Homopolymerization of MPMSK was carried out in 1,4-dioxane solvent under nitrojen at atmosphere at 70 ºC using % 1 AIBN as an initiator.Copolymers with various contents of MPMSK and styrene (St) were prepared in THF solvent using %1 AIBN as initiator at 70 ºC with high conversions. The copolymer compositions were determined by 1H-NMR analysis. Monomer reactivity ratios were calculated both Extended Kelen-Tüdös (EKT) and nonlinear least square (NLLS) techniques. The FT-IR and 1H-MNR spectra of the copolymers were discussed. Molecular weights of polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Thermal properties of polymers were investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The decomposition activation energies of polymers were obtained from the TGA data.