Vinyltrimethylsilane-co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and vinyltrimethoxysilane-co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone copolymers: Synthesis and reactivity ratios

Copolymers containing vinyltrimethylsilane and vinyltrimethoxysilane with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone at different compositions were synthesized and characterized. The reactivity ratios was estimated by using the classical Fineman-Ross and Kelen Tüdos linear fitting procedures. These parameters were also estimated through a computer program based on nonlinear minimization algorithm, starting from the r₁ and r₂ values obtained by the former procedures. The analysis of the results allow us to interpret the reactivity behaviour of these polymers in terms of the relative reactivity of the substiuents. The effect of the chemical structure of the polymer side group is discussed in terms of the different contributions to the stabilization of the radical intermediates.