Abstract
We report the synthesis and characterization of (co)polymers based on vinyl dimethyl azlactone (VDMA) made using free radical polymerization techniques, as well as the modification of VDMA and VDMA-based polymers. VDMA is a 2-alkenyl-2-oxazolin-5-one monomer that contains a polymerizable vinyl moiety as well as a highly reactive, pendant azlactone. Conventional free radical (co)polymerizations with vinyl pyrrolidone were carried out with 2,2�-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in benzene at 65�C. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and SEC-MALS. Thermal properties of the (co)polymers were also examined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Because VDMA is known to react with amines, exposure of the monomer or (co)polymer to a solution containing a primary amine (e.g., n-hexyl amine) yields a functionalized monomer or polymer, respectively. Functionalization was monitored in situ and in real-time using an FTIR fiber probe.
