Synthesis and polymerization of active ester monomers based on 4-vinylbenzoic acid

Nine active ester monomers based on 4-vinylbenzoic acid have been synthesized. Under free radical polymerization conditions these monomers could successfully be polymerized yielding reactive polymers with molecular weights of around M-n = 20.000-50.000 g/mol and molecular weight distributions M-w/M-n of around or below 2 in good yields. Polymer analogous reactions with amines have been investigated by time-resolved FT-IR spectroscopy and it was found that especially poly(pentafluorophenyl 4-vinylbenzoate) featured a significant reactivity, such that polymer analogous reactions proceeded quantitatively with amines within less than 5 min at 0 degrees C. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.