Convenient Synthesis and Free-Radical Copolymerization of p-Chloromethylstyrene

p-Chloromethylstyrene, a useful monomer for a starting material in preparation of functional polymers, is conveniently synthesized by the chloromethylation of 2-phenyl-ethyl bromide followed by dehydrobromination. This procedure is simpler and the yield is higher than those of methods previously described. Radical copolymerizations of this compound with styrene and methyl methacrylate were studied at 60°C. From the copolymerization with styrene, Q and e values for p-chloromethylstyrene were calculated as Q = 1.13 and e = −0.58. Similarly, the copolymerization parameters with methyl methacrylate were obtained as Q = 1.16 and e = −0.69.