Synthesis of phosphate-pendant polymers and their application to thermallylatent polymeric initiators

A novel phosphate monomer, O-p-(methacryloyloxymethyl)benzyl O,O-diethyl ph osphate (MDP) was synthesized by the reaction of diethyl phosphorochloridat e with 1,4-benzenedimethanol, followed by the reaction with methacryloyl ch loride in the presence of triethylamine. The radical polymerization of MDP and copolymerization with methyl methacrylate were carried out in the prese nce of 2,2 ' -azobisisobutyronitrile (3 mol %) in dimethylacetamide at 60 d egreesC for 20 h to afford phosphate-pendant polymers. The polymerization o f glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE) was carried out with the phosphate-pendant po lymer as an initiator in the presence of ZnCl2. The polymerization did not proceed below 90 degreesC but rapidly proceeded above 90 degreesC to afford polyGPE. The phosphate-pendant polymer served as a good thermally latent p olymeric initiator. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.