Self‐emulsion polymerization of baylis–hillman‐derived α‐hydroxymethyl‐substituted acrylates

Amphiphilic alkyl α-hydroxymethyl acrylates can be polymerized via self-emulsion polymerization (i.e., without surfactants) under conventional radical and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization conditions. The α-hydroxymethyl acrylates can be copolymerized at very low percentages (∼5%) with conventional monomers such as butyl acrylate under surfactant free conditions. The hydroxyl group of the α-hydroxymethyl acrylates in the resultant latex could potentially be used for further functionalization or for modulation of surface properties.