Preparation of low molecular weight styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers and sulfonated copolymers thereof

摘要

Styrene and maleic anhydride monomers are copolymerized in 1,2-dichloroethane employing 3-mercaptopropionic acid or methyl-3-mercaptopropionate chain transfer agents producing an odorless copolymer in the molecular weight range of about 500 to 10,000 which remains soluble in the solvent. The resultant copolymer may be conveniently sulfonated in the 1,2-dichloroethane solvent used for the polymerization thereby producing an odorless sulfonated copolymer.