Comparison of the Vibrational Spectra and Assignments for α-Syndiotactic, β-Syndiotactic, Isotactic, and Atactic Polystyrene and Toluene

Abstract

Vibrational assignments for α-syndiotactic polystyrene are made with the use of parallel and perpendicular polarization of uniaxially oriented film, and by comparison of vibrational data and assignments for toluene and atactic and isotactic polystyrene. Vibrational assignments are given for a cast film of β-syndiotactic polystyrene. These assignments are made by comparison with assignments for toluene and isotactic and atactic polystyrene and partial assignments for α- and β-syndiotactic polystyrene. Some of our assignments suggest that the crystal structure of α-SPS may not be isomorphous with C_{2 r} symmetry.