Synthesis and Characterization of Cinnamoyloxyethyl (Meth)acrylates and Their Copolymeric Hydrogels

Abstract Two unsaturated hydrophobic monomers, cinnamoyloxyethyl acrylate (CEA) and cinnamoyloxyethyl methacrylate (CEMA), were synthesized from hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), respectively, by the esterification reaction with cinnamoyl chloride. FT-IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra were employed to characterize the monomers. These monomers were bulk copolymerized with HEA and HEMA, respectively, by free-radical polymerization using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). Mechanical properties, thermal behavior, and surface morphology of the transparent copolymers were studied by Instron, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively.