Copolymerization of α‐terpineol with styrene: Synthesis and characterization

Radical copolymerization of α‐terpineol with styrene (Sty) initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile in xylene at 80 ± 0.1 °C for 2 h followed ideal kinetics and resulted in the formation of a functional and alternating copolymer as evidenced by spectral analysis. The activation energy was 28 kJ/mol. α‐Terpineol underwent copolymerization as well as a chain‐transfer reaction. The values of the monomer reactivity ratios calculated by the Kelen–Tüdos method were r1 (Sty) = 0.033 and r2 (α‐terpineol) = 0.004. The Alfrey–Price Q‐e parameters for α‐terpineol were calculated as 0.104 and 3.052, respectively. The mechanism of copolymerization is elucidated, and it is concluded that the double bond present in the monocyclic ring of α‐terpineol is an active site for copolymerization.