Synthesis and polymerization of carboxyalkylmethacrylates: New hydrophobic polyelectrolytes

Abstract

This paper describes the synthesis of the following methacrylic acid monomers with aliphatic spacers: methyl methacryloyloxyethanoate (MMOE), methyl 4-methacryloyloxybutanoate (M4MOB), methyl 6-methacryloyloxyhexanoate (M6MOH), methyl 10-methacryloyloxydecanoate (M10MOD), and methyl 11-methacryloyloxyundecanoate (M11MOU). The preparation of the respective linear polymers from these monomers, their characterization, and their conversion, via selective saponification, to five new hydrophobic polyelectrolytes are also described. With an increasing number of methylene spacers, the glass transition temperature of the polymers drops, as well as that of the polyelectrolytes, yielding polymeric materials with varied physical states. The developed hydrophobic polyelectrolytes show cloud points in aqueous NaCl solutions at different HpH values, making them potential candidates for new pH-sensitive materials.