Synthesis and electrochemistry of grafted copolymers of cellulose with 4-vinylpyridine, 1-vinylimidazole, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and 9-vinylcarbazole

Abstract

Some new cellulosic materials, suitable for the adsorption of noble metal ions, were synthesized by chemical and electrochemical modification of cellulose. The polymerizable groups were introduced in cellulose with ∼80% yield of substitution by esterification with acryloyl chloride. The vinyl monomers (4-vinylpyridine, 1-vinylimidazole, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and 9-vinylcarbazole) were readily grafted into cellulose acrylate via radical polymerization in acetonitrile. The grafted copolymers of cellulose with 4-vinylpyridine and 4-vinylimidazole were reacted with methyl iodide and the corresponding 1-methylpyridinium iodide (6) and 3-methylimidazolium iodide (7) copolymers of cellulose were obtained. Copolymers 6 and 7 were transformed into new polymeric regents, differing in anions (ClO-4, CF3COO-, NO-3, p-TsO-, BF-4, PF-6) by using a supporting electrolyte carrying the desired anions through the ion-exchange-electrochemical oxidation of the released iodide at a controlled anodic potential. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.