A one-pot, two-step reaction for the synthesis of VLC acidic polymers for resin modified glass-ionomers

Methacrylate-functionalized aromatic oxazolines are evaluated for attaching pendant methacrylate groups to acid containing polymers. Typically, these reactions use the toxic liquid 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) to func tionalized the acid containing polymer. Methacrylate-functionalized oxazoli nes will add to acid containing polymer in aqueous solvent. Thus, in a one- pot, two-step reaction the acid containing polymer can be synthesized and t hen reacted with the methacrylate-functionalized oxazoline. The visible lig ht-curable (VLC) polymer can then be formulated in resin modified glass-ion omers. The resulting glass-ionomers have properties that are comparable to commercial materials. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.