Stereoregularity evolution of isobornyl acrylate and styrene copolymers by 2D NMR spectroscopy

Isobornyl acrylate/styrene (B/S) copolymers of different compositions have been prepared by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) using methyl-2-bromopropionate as an initiator and PMDETA/CuBr as catalyst under nitrogen atmosphere at 60 °C. Copolymer compositions calculated from 1H NMR spectra are used to determine the reactivity ratios of monomers. Linear Kelen–Tudos (KT) and non-linear error in variable methods (EVM) have been employed for determination of monomer reactivity ratios in copolymers. The reactivity ratios obtained from KT and EVM are found to be rB = 0.41 ± 0.08, rS = 0.92 ± 0.13 and rB = 0.41 and rS = 0.93 respectively. These copolymers have been analyzed for their stereochemical structure using various 1D (1H, 13C{1H}, DEPT) and 2D (HSQC, TOCSY, NOESY, HMBC) NMR techniques. 2D HSQC and TOCSY NMR experiments are employed to resolve the highly overlapped and complex 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectra of the copolymers. Spatial coupling of different types of protons are resolved by 2D NOESY NMR spectra. The configurational and compositional sequences of β-methylene carbons are assigned upto tetrad level whereas methine carbon is assigned as triad level of compositional sequences. The quaternary carbon of styrene and carbonyl carbon of isobornyl acrylate have been assigned as triad level of compositional sequences and are further confirmed by 2D HMBC NMR spectra.