Synthesis of New Hydrogels by Copolymerization of Poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) Bis(macromonomers) and N‐Vinylpyrrolidone

New non‐ionic hydrogels were synthesized by radical homopolymerization of vinyl end‐functionalized poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) bis(macromonomers), or by radical copolymerization of these bis(macromonomers) with N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NVP). The poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) bis(macromonomers) were synthesized through “living” cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline (MeOXA), using, simultaneously, the known “initiating” and “end‐capping” method for synthesis of macromonomers. Chloromethyl styrene was used as initiator and N‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐piperazine was used as the terminating agent. Well defined poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) bis(macromonomers) were obtained with P_n = 4, 11, and 17. The hydrogel structures were characterized by high‐resolution magic angle spinning NMR technique and their solvent absorption capacity was tested by swelling experiments in different solvents. The bis(macromonomers) were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography.

Schematic of polymerization