Abstract
Poly(glycidyl methacrylate)s (PGMA) with low molecular weights was synthesized by radical polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in the presence of ethyl 3-mercaptopropionate (EMP) as a chain transfer agent. PGMA was further converted to poly methacrylate bearing a five-membered cyclic carbonate pendant group (PMA5CC) by CO2 incorporation reaction. PMA5CC thus obtained had low molecular weight and showed good solubility to polar aprotic solvents as well as less polar solvents such as CH2Cl2 and toluene. PMA5CC with low molecular weight was also synthesized directly by radical polymerization of methacrylate bearing a cyclic carbonate group (MA5CC) in the presence of EMP. PMA5CC obtained directly from MA5CC showed good solubility similar to that of PMA5CCs synthesized via PGMA. Copolymerization of GMA with allylic compounds also yielded low-molecular-weight copolymers. These copolymers were successfully incorporated with CO2 to form cyclic carbonate. PMA5CC and the copolymers were cross-linked with hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) or 1,3-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane (1,3-BAC) to form networked polymers through ring-opening reaction of the cyclic carbonate group.
