2D NMR studies of acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymers

The microstructure of acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymers prepared by the solution polymerization using 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as free radical initiator was investigated by two-dimensional NMR techniques. 2D-heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) and the total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY) have been utilized to resolve the complex H-1 NMR spectrum and to establish the compositional and configurational sequences of acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymers. 2D HSQC and TOCSY showed compositional and configurational sensitivity of methine protons of A and M units upto the triad level. Heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (HMBC) spectroscopy has been used to study carbon (carbonyl/nitrile)-proton coupling. The carbonyl and nitrile carbons showed compositional sensitivity upto the triad level. The values of reactivity ratios were determined by Kelen-Tudos (KT) and nonlinear error in variable method (RREVM). (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.