High-Temperature Resistive Free Radically Synthesized Chloro-Substituted Phenyl Maleimide Antimicrobial Polymers

ABSTRACT

Homopolymerization of chloro-substituted N-phenyl maleimide monomer at ortho N-OCPMI, meta N-MCPMI, and para N-PCPMI was performed at 70°C in DMF using benzoyl peroxide as a free radical initiator. The average molecular weight of all homopolymers, namely, H-OCPMI H-MCPMI and H-PCPMI by gel permeation chromatography was found to be 1,806, 2,464, and 4,542 with PDI 1.07, 1.09, and 1.11. The controlled poly dispersity index by conventional free radical polymerization is achieved. The thermal analyses reveal that the initial decomposition temperatures for all types of homopolymers are close to each other. On increasing heating rates, the activation energy (ΔE*),entropy of activation (ΔS*), enthalpy of activation (ΔH*), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) increase for all types of homopolymers. The homopolymer of para chloro-substituted of N-phenyl maleimide, H-PCPMI has the highest thermal stability. All the synthesized monomers and homopolymers are found to show an excellent antimicrobial activity. Activity index is also evaluated.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Activation energy
• activity index
• antimicrobial activity
• N-chloro (phenyl) maleimide
• thermal degradation

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Department of Chemistry, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, for TG-DTA analyses, SICART, Vallabh-Vidyanagar, India for providing GPC traces and CDRI, Lucknow for providing spectral and analytical facilities.