SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FUNCTIONALIZED POLY(EPSILON-CAPROLACTONE) COPOLYMERS BY FREE-RADICAL POLYMERIZATION

A series of functionalized poly(epsilon-caprolactone) copolymers, poly (epsilon-caprolactone-co-vinylphosphonic acid) and poly(epsilon-caprol actone-co-dimethyl vinylphosphonate), were synthesized by the free-rad ical copolymerization of 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane with two vinyl mono mers, vinylphosphonic acid and dimethyl vinylphosphonate. The copolyme rs have ester groups in the backbone as well as pendant functional gro ups. The structure of each copolymer was established by H-1 and C-13 N MR as well as IR spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry indic ated that the copolymer had a random structure. NMR study showed hydro gen transfer during the copolymerization. The copolymers have differen t solubility behavior due to the presence of different pendant functio nal groups.