Synthesis and characterization of acetylated syndiotactic polystyrene

Acetylation of highly stereoregular syndiotactic polystyrene has been accomplished in a heterogeneous process by using carbon disulfide as the dispersing medium, and acetyl chloride and anhydrous aluminium chloride as acetylating agent and catalyst, respectively. The acetylation reaction can be well controlled and carried out to a high degree of acetylation. The resultant polymer was characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The incorporation of acetyl groups into syndiotactic polystyrene was found to have an effect on the thermal properties of these new materials. The degree of crystallinity was decreased by the presence of acetyl groups, while the glass transition temperature increased. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.