Novel ionenes with allyl pendant groups

Novel ionenes with allyl pendant groups have been synthesized by condensati on of N,N'- bisallylpiperazine with organic dihalides such as 1,4-dichlorob utane, 1,6-dibromohexane and 1,4-dichloromethylbenzene. The polymers are re adily soluble in water and have low molecular weights. The structure of the ionenes has been identified by spectroscopic techniques. The concentrated aqueous solutions of the resulting ionenes can be crosslinked by t-butylhyd roperoxide as a radical initiator to give transparent hydrogels. The ionene s also act as an crosslinking agent in copolymerization with high concentra tions of acrylic acid in the presence of K2S2O8 as a radical initiator in w ater at 65 degrees C.