Synthesis and characterization of hydrophobically modified poly(vinyl alcohol)

Two different routes for the preparation of hydrophobically modified poly(v inyl alcohol), PVA are reported. The first method involves the formation of the polymeric alcoholate. An alkylhalide and propanesultone are coupled wi th the polymer in two subsequent steps of the Williamson ether synthesis. T he product is a hydrophobically modified polymer with anionic functionality . The other method proceeds via a 1,4 addition of acrylamide and the Hoffma n degradation of the amide to an amine. In the next step, the amine is alky lated with an alkylhalide. The polymers are characterised by quantitative ( HNMR)-H-1 spectroscopy and titration.