Synthesis of high molecular weight poly(dialkyl fumarate)s bearing n-alkyl side chains from poly(di-tert-butyl fumarate) via olefin elimination and reesterification in a one-pot

Abstract

High molecular weight poly(dialkyl fumarate)s bearing n-alkyl esters such as an octadecyl group were prepared efficiently from poly(di-tert-butyl fumarate) by the one-pot synthesis, i.e. both elimination of isobutene from the tert-butyl ester and the subsequent esterification were performed in a corresponding alcohol at 170–180°C in a one-pot without isolating poly(fumaric acid). The resulting polymers were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopies and GPC. The polymers with various contents of an octadecyl group in the side chain were also obtained similarly from the copolymer of di-tert-butyl fumarate with diisopropyl fumarate.