Towards Green Routes for Polymer Synthesis: Polymerization of Cyclodextrin Host‐Guest Complexed Diethyl Fumarate and Copolymerization with Complexed Styrene in Homogenous Aqueous Solution

Summary: The radical homo‐ and copolymerization of styrene (1) and diethyl fumarate (DEF, 2) in the presence of methylated β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) in water is described. It has been shown for the first time that homopolymerization of CD‐complexed DEF and its copolymerization with CD‐complexed styrene occur readily in aqueous solution. In the absence of CD, or in organic solvents, the homopolymerization of DEF is strongly retarded.