Radically initiated polymerization of a methacryloylamido‐terminated saccharide, 2. Copolymerization with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Abstract

Kinetics of radically initiated copolymerization of 6‐deoxy‐6‐methacryloylamido‐D‐glucopyranose (MAG) with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was investigated at 60°C in water using 4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanopentanoic acid) as initiator. Reactivity ratios of the binary system were determined to be r_HEMA = 3.50 and r_MAG = 0.60, indicating a strong copolymerization drift as polymerization proceeds. Copolymers with homogeneous composition were prepared using a simple and easy method based on the knowledge of the consumption rate of each monomer. These copolymers were then characterized with regard to composition (by ¹H NMR) and physicochemical properties in aqueous media (using SEC with MALLS and refractometry detection and viscosimetric measurements).