Alternating copolymerization of β‐methylstyrene and maleic anhydride

Abstract Alternating copolymers of β‐methylstyrene and maleic anhydride were prepared by free‐radical‐initiated polymerization in bulk and in toluene as a solvent. The reactivity ratios k 1c / k 12 and k 2c / k 21 were calculated from the change of copolymerization rate with a monomer feed at a constant total monomer concentration according to the generalized model of Shirota and coworkers. From the equation R p = R p ( f ) + R p (CT) were calculated R p ( f ) and R p (CT), and it was found that in toluene the copolymerization proceeds predominantly by the addition of CT‐complex monomers. Termination occurs predominantly by homotermination of β‐methyl‐styrene macro free radicals, k t22 , but the cross termination k t21 is also operative.