ALTERNATING COPOLYMERIZATION OF A SURFACE-ACTIVE MONOMER HAVING AN ACTIVE ESTER GROUP WITH DIALKYL FUMARATES

Radical homopolymerization of a cationic surface-active monomer bearin g an active ester group, p-10-undecenoyloxyphenyldimethylsulfonium met hylsulfate (UPDS) and its copolymerization with dialkyl fumarates (DRF s) were studied in water, benzene and dioxane as solvents, which give aqueous micellar, reverse micellar and isotropic solutions, respective ly. The homopolymerization occurred only with 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopro pane) dihydrochloride (AIBA) in aqueous micellar solution, giving a po lymer with a degree of polymerization of 14 and a narrow polydispersit y (($) over bar M(W)/($) over bar M(n) = 1.18). Alternating copolymers of UPDS and DRFs with relatively high molecular weights were obtained in high yield, particularly in the copolymerizations of UPDS with DRF s in aqueous micellar solution using AIBA as a water soluble initiator . The depression of the rate of termination of the polymerization by t he micelles was deduced to be responsible for the increased rate of co polymerization with AIBA. Both UPDS monomer and the copolymer of UPDS with diethyl fumarate were highly reactive towards 2-methoxyethylamine in aqueous medium, giving their corresponding amides in high yields.