Monomers for non-bond crosslinking of vinyl polymers

Monomers having on the one hand a polymerizable double bond and on the othe r hand a large macrocyclic ring (n greater than or equal to 27-28) through which a growing chain may be threaded are shown to be a new type of crossli nking agents which lead to non-bond crosslinking of vinyl polymers. This is demonstrated by cyclic octaethylene glycol fumarate, a 29-membered ring ob tained in the reaction of fumaryl chloride with octaethylene glycol under h igh dilution conditions, which upon copolymerization with styrene or methyl methacrylate led to crosslinked polymers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.