Radical polymerization of oligoethylene glycol methyl vinyl ethers in protic polar solvents

Abstract

The radical polymerization of three oligoethylene glycol methyl vinyl ethers, ethylene glycol methyl vinyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl vinyl ether, and triethylene glycol methyl vinyl ether, was examined in aqueous and in alcoholic media. These monomers showed a relatively high polymerizability in aqueous media when 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride was chosen as the initiator and produced polymers of 2000 < M̄n < 6 600 in moderate yields. Formamide was also a good solvent for their radical polymerization, in which polymers of M̄n < 1100 were produced. These solvents are considered to form strong hydrogen-bonds with these monomers, thus stabilizing the propagating radical ends.