Synthesis and polymerization of a styryl terminated oligovinylpyrrolidone macromonomer

Abstract The esterification of a carboxy group terminated vinylpyrrolidone oligomer with chloromethylstyrene under mild conditions resulted in a styryl terminated oligovinylpyrrolidone macromonomer. The purity of the obtained macromonomer was greater than 95%. Copolymerization of the macromonomer with styrene in ethanol using BPO as catalyst yielded a graft copolymer having a hydrophobic backbone and amphiphilic branches, which was found to have a spherical form and was dispersable in water and ethanol.