Synthesis, photoperoxidation and crosslinking of styrene copolymer with pendant benzil moieties

A new benzil-containing (BZ) styrene monomer, 1-phenyl-2-{4-[2-(4-vinylbenzyloxy)ethoxy]phenyl}-ethane-1,2-dione (BZS) and its copolymer with styrene (BZS/S) were prepared. BZS concentration in the monomer mixtures is almost identical to the concentration in the copolymers and therefore the chemically homogeneous styrene copolymers are produced. When irradiated (λ = 436 nm) in the air, the pendant BZ groups of the BZS/S copolymer are transformed into benzoyl peroxide (BP) groups. The BP groups can be converted to esters and benzoic acid moieties during subsequent thermal treatment, resulting in highly crosslinked films.