Cationic graft polymerization of 2-oxazolines on cellulose derivatives

Abstract

Cationic graft polymerization of 2-oxazolines on cellulose derivatives such as chlorinated cellulose (Cell-Cl), cellulose acetate halogenacetate (AcCell-AcX), and cellulose tosylate (Cell-OTs) was investigated. With Cell-Cl the successful graft polymerization of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (MeOXZ) required the presence of potassium salt but with AcCell-AcX and Cell-OTs it proceeded without the salt. The reactivity of halogens in graft polymerization of MeOXZ on halogenated cellulose derivatives increased in the order of I−> Br−> Cl−. This is explained by the nucleophilicity of halogen ions compared with that of MeOXZ. Graft copolymers prepared with AcCell-AcX were hydrolyzed by 0.5 N NaOH solution to isolate the branched poly(MeOXZ). The molecular weight of the branched poly(MeOXZ) measured by GPC was in the range of 380 to 3510 depending on the reaction conditions. 2-Oxazoline (OXZ) did not graft-polymerize with halogenated cellulose derivatives, but graft-polymerized with Cell-OTs. © 1988 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan.