Functional copolymer of geraniol and acrylonitrile: Synthesis and characterization

The radical copolymerization of acyclic terpene namely geraniol [GER] with acrylonitrile [AN] in DMF at (70 ± 0.1)°C for 1 h, using benzoylperoxide (BPO) as an initiator has been carried out under inert atmosphere of nitrogen. The kinetic expression for reaction is Rp ∝ [BPO]0.5 [AN]1.0 [GER]1.0. The IR spectrum of the copolymer shows bands at 3432 and at 2244 cm−1 due to OH group of GER and CN group of AN, respectively. The 13C‐NMR spectrum shows peaks at 73–75 δ ppm and 116–120 δ ppm due to OH group of GER and CN group of AN, respectively. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry study shows that copolymer is thermally stable up to 407°C and has glass transition temperatures (Tg) 56°C. The reactivity ratios r1 (AN) and r2 (GER) have been calculated as 0.05 and 0.005, respectively. The Alfrey‐Price Q‐e parameter for GER has been calculated as 0.094 and −2.0, respectively. The molecular weights of the copolymers have been evaluated by gel‐permeation chromatography.