Near-monodisperse alpha-hydroxy and alpha,omega-dihydroxy amine-based polymers: Synthesis and characterization

alpha-Hydroxy and alpha,omega-dihydroxy polymers of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) of various molecular weights were synthesized by grou p transfer polymerization (GTP) in tetrahydrofuran (THF), using 1-methoxy-1 -(trimethylsiloxy)-8-methyl propene (MTS) as the initiator and tetrabutylam monium bibenzoate (TBABB) as the catalyst. The hydroxyl groups were introdu ced by adding one 2-(trimethylsiloxy) ethyl methacrylate (TMSEMA) unit at o ne or at both ends of the polymer chain. The ends were converted to 2-hydro xyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) units after the polymerization by acid-catalyze d hydrolysis. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in THF and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1-NMR) spectroscopy in CDCl3 were used to determine the molecular weight and composition of the polymers. These mono- and difun ctional methacrylate polymers can be covalently Linked at the hydroxy termi ni to form star polymers and model networks, respectively. (C) 1999 John Wi ley & Sons, Inc.