Methyl and phenyl oxazoline were polymerized using carboxylic acid chl
orides as initiators. The first step of the reaction was shown to cons
ist in a fast reaction of the carboxylic acid chloride with the oxazol
ine. Resulting product, which was isolated and identified, act as the
proper initiator of the polymerization of the oxazoline, which proceed
s via covalent or, when chloride counter ion is replaced with iodide o
r triflate, ionic active species. Apparent rate constants of the chain
growth were determined. When methacryloyl chloride is used as initiat
or macromonomers are obtained, which were copolymerized with styrene.
Macromolecular carboxylic acid chlorides initiate the polymerization o
f oxazolines, yielding graft polymers.