DIPOLE MOMENT OF BENZYL ITACONATE POLYMERS.

Poly(itaconic acid) derivatives have been studied from different points of view. Solution properties, unperturbed dimensions and chain stiffness have been determined for a few monoesters and diesters of poly(itaconic acid). But no direct analysis of the conformations of these polymers has been performed. Here, we report on another solution property sensitive to the conformation and microstructure of the macromolecule: dipole moment. The polymers studied are the monobenzyl and the dibenzyl esters of polyitaconic acid. For these polymers we determined the dipole moment and analyse their conformational energy in detail, calculating dipole moment as a function of tacticity to compare theoretical and experimentally determined values.