End-capping of living poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) with maleic acid

A series of functionalized poly(2-oxazoline)s were synthesized by quenching poly(7-methyl-2-oxazoline) living chains (mono- or bifunctional) with male ic acid as nucleophilic agent. By varying the functionality of the initiati ng system and the ratio of the nucleophile to oxazolinium ends, three diffe rent compounds - two macromers and/or an unsaturated polyester - were obtai ned. The use of a macromolecular proton scavenger was found to be an easy, efficient alternative to the laborious approach performed with triethylamin e. The coupling products were copolymerized with styrene by solution or dis persion polymerization. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.