Dilute solution properties and unperturbed dimensions of poly(di‐ni‐alkyl itaconate)s

The diesters of itaconic acid (methylenesuccinic acid) with higher C12 – C20 unbranched, saturated, aliphatic alcohols were prepared, purified, and polymerized in bulk or in solution with 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile as initiator. The transparent to waxy polymers obtained were fractionated and all fractions characterized by viscosity and light scattering measurements. The Kuhn‐Mark‐Houwink‐Sakurada relations were established and then extrapolated to thetaconditions, in order to calculate the unperturbed dimensions. High values of the steric factor σ, and the characteristic ratio C∞ were obtained. The results correlate well with those obtained previously for poly(di‐n‐alkyl itaconate)s from the corresponding lower C1 – C11 alcohols.