SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND COPOLYMERIZATION OF 2-[4-(2-AXAZOLINYL)-PHENOXY]ETHYL METHACRYLATE WITH HEMA AND COPOLYMER CROSS-LINKING REACTIONS

The bifunctional monomer 2-[4- (2-oxazolinyl)phenoxy] ethyl methacryla te [OPEM] was prepared in good yield using the starting material 4-cya nophenol, via a multi-step synthesis method. Since OPEM is very simila r to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate [HEMA], OPEM readily copolymerizes wi th HEMA, using typical free radical initiators. In the presence of pro ton sources, such as alcohols and acids and using cationic initiators, the oxazoline groups undergo ring-opening polymerization, resulting i n crosslinking. The free radical copolymerization and cationic polymer ization were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry [DSC].