Synthesis and hydrolysis of beta-cyanoethyl ether of poly(vinyl alcohol)

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was cyanoethylated by reaction with acrylonitrile in the presence of sodium hydroxide and quaternary ammonium halide. Quater nary ammonium halide, acting as a phase transfer catalyst, increases the de gree of substitution (DS) of PVA. The DS also increased with increasing acr ylonitrile concentration. Cyanoethylation of PVA up to 98% can be achieved under optimum conditions. The hydrolysis of P-cyanoethyl ether of PVA (CN-P VA) was studied. The rate of hydrolysis was affected by the sodium hydroxid e concentration and the reaction temperature. The rheological properties of aqueous solution of hydrolysis product of CN-PVA were determined at differ ent temperatures, and the flow activation energy was calculated. (C) 1999 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.