Copolymerization of optically active N‐bornylmaleimide with vinyl monomers

Optically active N‐bornylmaleimide (NBMI) was copolymerized with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and vinylidene chloride with a free‐radical catalyst to obtain optically active copolymers. The monomer reactivity ratios for the radical copolymerization of NBMI (M2) with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and vinylidene chloride were: ST‐NBMI, r1 = 0.13, r2 = 0.05; MMA‐NBMI, r1 = 2.02, r2 = 0.16; VCl2‐NBMI, r1 = 1.15, r2 = 0.47. The Q‐e values for NBMI were Q2 = 0.48 and e2 = +1.47. The specific rotation and optical rotatory dispersion of these copolymers were measured. The correlation between the specific rotation and composition of these copolymers was not linear. The value of λc for each copolymer was independent of the copolymer composition and the comonomer, being 260 mμ for the St‐NBMI system, 262 mμ for the MMA‐system, and 260 mμ for the VCl2‐NBMI system. The effects of solvents and temperature on the specific rotation of these copolymers were investigated.