Synthesis of unsaturated poly(ether amide)s based on amine-terminated poly(ethylene glycol)

Novel water-soluble unsaturated poly(ether amide)s (PEAs) were synthesized by low-temperature polycondensation of fumaryl chloride and amine-terminate d poly(ethylene glycol) (Jeffamine(R)). The unsaturated copolymers were fur ther chemically modified with thiols to provide reactive pendant functional groups. Hydrogels based on these copolymers were prepared by copolymerizat ion of the PEA with N-vinyl pyrrolidone exposure to ultraviolet (UV) irradi ation. The resulting hydrogels exhibited a high swelling ratio, and the mag nitude of swelling depended on the molecular weight of Jeffamine(R). The sw elling ratio and equilibrium water content tended to increase with increasi ng chain length of the Jeffamine(R) used in copolymer synthesis. (C) 1999 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.