Esterolytic activity of vinylimidazole–vinylpyrrolidinone copolymers

Abstract Copolymers of vinylimidazoles and vinylpyrrolidinone, dilute in imidazole residues, have been prepared; their reactivity in the hydrolysis of p ‐nitrophenyl acetate has been examined. The catalytic activity of imidazole residues in these copolymers is comparable to that of nonpolyineric imidazoles of the same basicity, and no kinetic effects of preassociation of polymer with substrate ester of p ‐nitrophenol were detected. It is suggested that although polyvinylpyrrolidinone probably does bind these substances, they are sequestered from the catalytic, side chains.