New Poly(sodium carboxylate)s Based on Saccharides, 1. Synthesis and Characterization of Ionic Allyl Glycoside Polymers

New poly(sodium carboxylate)s, containing monosaccharide side groups with ether linkages to the main chain, are presented as substitutes for water‐soluble homo‐ and copolymers of acrylic acid. Neutral and ionic allyl glycoside monomers, namely allyl‐ α ‐ D ‐galactopyranoside and allyl‐ β ‐ D ‐glucofuranosidurono‐6,3‐lactone, were synthesized by Fischer glycosidation. These monomers were copolymerized with maleic anhydride and itaconic acid in aqueous and nonaqueous solution. The corresponding copolymers with different structures, degrees of functionalization, and charge densities were characterized by 13 C NMR spectroscopy, molecular‐weight measurements, and intrinsic viscosity [ η ] determination. From these, the monomer reactivity ratios and Mark–Houwink relations were established (see Figure). Copolymerization curves of maleic acid copolymers 6 and 10 . M 1 : mole fraction of allyl monomer 2β and 5α in the feed; m 1 : mole fraction of allyl monomer in the copolymer. The dashed line shows the course of an ideal alternating copolymerization (excepted: M 1 = 0 mol‐%, M 1 = 100 mol‐%). magnified image Copolymerization curves of maleic acid copolymers 6 and 10 . M 1 : mole fraction of allyl monomer 2β and 5α in the feed; m 1 : mole fraction of allyl monomer in the copolymer. The dashed line shows the course of an ideal alternating copolymerization (excepted: M 1 = 0 mol‐%, M 1 = 100 mol‐%).