Copolymerization of eight-membered ring-opening allylic sulfide lactone and disulfide monomers with methyl methacrylate and styrene

Apparent reactivity ratios and detailed NMR analysis of copolymerizations of eight membered ring-opening allylic sulfide monomers; 3-methylene-1,5-oxathiocan-2-one 2 and 2,2,4-trimethyl-7-methylene-1,5-dithiocane 5 with methyl methacrylate and styrene are presented. The activated double bond of 2 and unactivated double bond and additional methyl substituents of 5 were found to have a profound affect on reactivity. The copolymerization rates were analyzed based on the lumped parameter kp(f/kt)0.5, which was estimated as a function of monomer composition in the feed.