SYNTHESIS OF FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS BEARING CYCLIC CARBONATE GROUPS FROM(2-OXO-1,3-DIOXOLAN-4-YL)METHYL VINYL ETHER

(2-Oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methyl vinyl ether (OVE) was synthesized with high yield by addition reaction of glycidyl vinyl ether with carbon d ioxide using tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) as a catalyst. OVE was also prepared by reaction with beta-butyrolactone or sodium hydrogenca rbonate in the presence of TBAB as the catalyst. Poly [(2-oro-1,3-diox olan-4-yl) methyl vinyl ether] [P(OVE)] was obtained with high yield b y cationic polymerization of OVE catalyzed using boron trifluoride die thyl ether complex in dichloromethane. Polymers bearing pendant 5-memb ered cyclic carbonate groups were also prepared by radical copolymeriz ation of OVE with some electron-accepting monomers. Furthermore, addit ion reaction of P(OVE) with alkyl amines yielded the corresponding pol ymer having pendant 2-hydroxyethyl carbamate residue with high convers ions. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.