Synthesis and characterization of thiophene-substituted N-phenyl maleimide polymers by photoinduced radical polymerization

Two types of novel functionalized N-[4-(4'-hydroxyphenyloxycarbonyl)phenyl]maleimide and N-(4-{[2-(3-thienyl)acetyl]oxyphenyl}oxycarbonylphenyl)maleimide (MIThi) were synthesized starting from 4-maleimido benzoic acid. Photoinduced radical homopolymerization of MIThi and its copolymerization with styrene were performed at room temperature to give linear polymers containing pendant thienyl moieties using omega,omega-dimethoxy-omega-phenylacetophenone as an initiator. Copolymers' compositions and the equilibrium constant (K) for electron donor-acceptor complex formation suggest an alternating nature of the copolymerization, The monomer reactivity ratios and Alfrey-Price Q,e values were also determined. The thermal behavior of the new synthesized monomers and polymers was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.