Synthesis of water-soluble copolymers carrying long-chain (C_(12) to C_(30)) aliphatic moieties

摘要

Water-soluble copolymers from mono-1-alkyl itaconates and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone are synthesized and characterized. The mono-1-alkyl itaconates are prepared from itaconic anhydride and the related alcohol: 1-dodecanol, 1-octadecanol, 1-docosanol, and 1-triacontanol. The mono-1-triacontyl itaconate is synthesized from plant growth regulator policosanols extracted from Agave fourcrouydes, where 1-triacontanol is the major product. The reactivity ratios, calculated according to the Mao-Huglin method for copolymerizations conducted to medium-high conversions, indicate a tendency toward alternation for all copolymerization reactions. Water solubility of copolymers is provided as a function of copolymer composition and aliphatic chain length.