Synthesis of functionalized poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers

Functionalized poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomers (alpha -tertiary am ino and omega -methacryloyl groups) were prepared by ring-opening polymeriz ation of living PEO anions using 2-[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)-ethoxy]ethanol po tassium alkoxides as an initiator with glycidyl methacrylate. Terminal doub le bond functionality was controlled in the range of 1-1.5 per molecule in toluene as the hydrocarbon solvent. However, gelation was observed upon suc h ring-opening polymerization system in tetrahydrofuran solvent. These macr omonomers can be applied for the synthesis of peripheral functionalized sta rs and polymer brushes as the starting materials. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.