REACTIVE POLY(2-VINYL-4,4-DIMETHYL-5-OXAZOLONE) AND POLY[(2-VINYL-4,4-DIMETHYL-5-OXAZOLONE)-CO-(METHYL METHACRYLATE)]S - SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND CHEMICAL MODIFICATION WITH 4-METHOXY-4'-(BETA-AMINOETHOXY)BIPHENYL

Poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethyl-5-oxazolone) (P-0) and poly[(2-vinyl-4,4-dim ethyl-5-oxazolone)-co-(methyl methacrylate)]s with increasing content of methyl methacrylate units (P-1-P-4) were synthesized and characteri zed. NMR spectra were discussed in terms of monomer sequence distribut ion and tacticity effects. The reaction of 4-methoxy-4'-hydroxybipheny l (1) with 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline was utilized to prepare 4-methoxy-4'-(b eta-aminoethoxy)biphenyl (3) through the intermediate ethoxy-4'-[(N-pr opanoyl)-beta-aminoethoxy]biphenyl (2). The homopolymer P-0 and two co polymers P-2 and P-3 were functionalized with 4-methoxybiphenyl side g roups by reaction with 3 via a ring-opening process in N,N-dimethylfor mamide (DMF) or 1,2-dichloroethane. The resulting copolymers P-5-P-8 w ere characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR. The highest degree of functiona lized units was obtained in DMF at 80 degrees C.