POLYMERIZATION OF 2-(SUBSTITUTED METHYL) ACRYLATE BEARING OMEGA-METHOXYOLIGOETHYLENEOXY GROUPS AS SIDE-CHAINS TO NEW LOW-T(G) POLYMER

The polymerization of methyl 2-(omega-methoxyoligoethleneoxymethyl) ac rylates, which were synthesized from reactions of methyl 2-bromomethyl acrylate with omega-methoxyoligoethylene glycol, was investigated. All these monomers polymerized readily to high molecular weight despite e xpectation of the considerable steric hindrance against propagation. N o influence of ceiling temperature was observed. The 2-(2-methoxyethyl eneoxymethyl) acrylate exhibited similar reactivities to methyl 2-alko xymethylacrylate reported previously in copolymerization with styrene and methyl methacrylate. The homopolymers synthesized, except for thos e from methyl 2-methoxymethyl- and 2-(2-methoxyethyleneoxymethyl) acry lates, were soluble in water, and all were soluble in benzene. These p olymers were thermally less stable than poly(methyl methacrylate) as c onfirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, and all showed glass transitio n temperatures below 0-degrees-C. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.