Copolymerization of styrene. I. Copolymerization with styrene derivatives containing nitrile groups in the side‐chain

Abstract Styrene was copolymerized in bulk with cinnamonitrile, benzylidenemalononitrile, ethyl benzylidenecyanoacetate, and atroponitrile at 80°C. up to low conversions. The usual reaction scheme of copolymerization fitted only the pair styrene‐atroponitrile. The kinetic scheme of the other three pairs fitted the scheme proposed by Barb, taking into account the effect of the penultimate unit.