Polymerization of 2‐(substituted methyl)acrylate bearing ω‐methoxyoligoethyleneoxy groups as side chains to new low Tg polymer

The polymerization of methyl 2‐(ω‐methoxyoligoethleneoxymethyl)acrylates, which were synthesized from reactions of methyl 2‐bromomethylacrylate with ω‐methoxyoligoethylene glycol, was investigated. All these monomers polymerized readily to high molecular weight despite expectation of the considerable steric hindrance against propagation. No influence of ceiling temperature was observed. The 2‐(2‐methoxyethyleneoxymethyl)acrylate exhibited similar reactivities to methyl 2‐alkoxymethylacrylate reported previously in copolymerization with styrene and methyl methacrylate. The homopolymers synthesized, except for those from methyl 2‐methoxymethyl‐ and 2‐(2‐methoxyethyleneoxymethyl)acrylates, were soluble in water, and all were soluble in benzene. These polymers were thermally less stable than poly(methyl methacrylate) as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, and all showed glass transition temperatures below 0°C.