Molecular Structure, Vibrational, Spectral Investigation and Quantum Chemical DFT Calculations of Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-nbutyl methacrylate)

A new copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-nbutylmethacrylate) was synthesized by free radical solution polymerization process using 2,2′-Azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) as an initiator in 1,4-dioxane at 70 °C. The structure of the copolymer was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) method. Theoretically, density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP) was utilized to identify the molecular geometry and then examine the vibrational frequencies and electrical characteristics of this molecule, with the 6-31G basis set in the ground state. In dichloromethane solution, UV-vis spectra of the molecule were calculated using the Time-Dependent DFT method. 1H NMR chemical shifts have been calculated with GIAO approximation, and the calculated results show good agreement with experimental chemical shifts.