A New Type of Thermoresponsive Copolymer with UCST‐Type Transitions in Water: Poly(N‐vinylimidazole‐co‐1‐vinyl‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)imidazole)

1-Vinyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)imidazole (2) is synthesized by a procedure described in the literature. Corresponding copolymers with upper critical solution temperature (UCST)-type transitions in water and high-glass transition temperatures (Tg ) are prepared by free radical copolymerization with N-vinylimidazole (1). Depending on the copolymer composition, the cloud point can be varied between 19 and 41 °C. As the copolymer composition is identical with the monomer feed ratio, the cloud point can be easily tuned in the desired range. Furthermore, a distinctive pH-dependence and salt effect can be observed.