Synthesis of 3-alkylated-1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidones and preliminary kinetic studies of their photopolymerizations

1,6-Bis-3-(vinyl-3-2-pyrrolidonyl)hexane (BNVP) was synthesized for use as a crosslinker in the photopolymerization of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP). A model compound, 3-hexyl-1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (HNVP), was also synthesized for use as a model comonomer in the kinetic studies of NVP copolymerization . Copolymerizations with NVP and low feed ratios of HNVP indicate that ally l substitution in the 3-position on the pyrrolidone ring does not affect ra dical reactivity of the monomer. However, the comonomer containing this hex yl side chain acted as an internal plasticizer for the NVP polymers, loweri ng the T-g and reducing the effect of autoacceleration on the photopolymeri zation process. The crosslinked polymers exhibited gel-like swelling in wat er. The crosslinker limited the mobility of the polymer chains early in the polymerization and induced earlier onset of the Tromsdorff effect. (C) 199 9 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.