Block and graft copolymers of 2-oxazolines

Abstract

The cationic ring-opening polymerization of 2-oxazolines is known to be initiated by alkyl halides, Lewis acids and esters of strong acids. The polymerization proceeds by a living mechanism. Numerous block and graft copolymers have already been described. Recently it was found that chloroformates (R-O-CO-CI) are also useful initiators. The mechanism of the initiation and propagation is discussed. This type of initiators allows the synthesis of different novel two-block and three-block copolymers, star-shape polymers, and a graft copolymer with a polyvinylacetate backbone.