POLYTETRAHYDROFURAN MACROINIMERS - 3 - SYNTHESIS OF POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE WITH SIDE-CHAIN BLOCK-COPOLYMERS OF TETRAHYDROFURAN AND METHYL-METHACRYLATE

Photoactive polytetrahydrofuran macroinimers were synthesized by the c ationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran initiated by the unsaturated oxocarbenium salt and subsequent termination by 2-picoline N-oxide. M acroinimers incorporating vinyl and pyridinium groups and methyl metha crylate were used in the grafting reaction in the presence of 2,2'-azo bisisobutyronitrile as a thermal initiator. Side chain block copolymer s were obtained by indirect photochemical polymerization of methyl met hacrylate. Upon subjecting the pyridinium-ion-containing graft copolym er to UV irradiation in the presence of anthracene (photosensitizer) a nd methyl methacrylate, the polymerization of methyl methacrylate was initiated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.