New type of polyvinylsaccharides with N,N‐dimethylbarbituric acid as a linker between sugar and styrene residue

A new type of polyvinylsaccharide with a CC bond between the pendent sugar and the backbone was prepared. Without use of protecting groups N,N‐dimethylbarbituric acid was used to link sugars directly to a polymerizable group. Homo‐ as well as copolymers were prepared by radical initiation. The barbiturate ring of the polymer undergoes a specific base‐catalyzed ring cleavage to give highly water‐soluble polymers. Also in copolymers with less than 32 mol‐% styrene residues water solubility is attained due to the newly formed diamide groups.