N‐(monohalogenphenyl) maleimides and their copolymers with styrene and butadiene

N‐(Monohalogenphenyl)maleamic acids (I) and N‐(monohalogenphenyl) maleimides (II) which contained bromide or chlorine atoms in the 2‐, 3‐, or 4‐position of the phenyl ring and their respective isoimides (III) were prepared. The radical copolymerization of Pairs II + styrene and II + butadiene in benzene solution initiated with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile at 50°C was used to determine the monomer reactivity ratios of II. Their values, which are close to zero, indicated an alternating addition of the two monomers on the polymer radical. The thermal stability of the copolymers was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis; their flammability was determined by the method of limiting oxygen index. The copolymerizability of III with styrene and isobutylene was verified at 30°C.