Copolymers with Pendant N -arylimide Groups via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization: Synthesis, Characterization and Kinetic Study

Random and random-block copolymers of methyl methacrylate with N -arylitaconimide monomer ( N -(4-chlorophenyl)itaconimide, N -phenylitaconimide, and N -(4-methoxyphenyl)itaconimide) have been synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization process with N -arylimide as the pendant group and characterized by different techniques. A 60–80% enhancement in softening temperature of these copolymers was observed as compared to poly(methyl methacrylate). The living mechanism was confirmed by the linear rise of number average molecular weight with conversion.