Synthesis of Multifunctional, Nonionic Vinyl Polymers and Their13C Spin-Lattice Relaxation Times in Deuterium Oxide Solutions

Abstract

A study was conducted to molecularly design very hydrophilic vinyl polymers. Various nonionic, water-soluble polymers with hydroxyl or primary amide groups in their side chains were prepared by radical polymerization of corresponding monomers or by polymer reactions to modify side chains derivatized in poly(vinyl ether)s. The functional groups interconnecting a hydrophobic main chain and a side chain included ether, secondary and tertiary amide, and ester groups. The number of hydroxyl groups incorporated in the side chains per monomer unit ranged from one to nine, and that of primary amide groups ranged from one to three. The spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) of individual carbon atoms were measured in deuterium oxide (D2O) by an inversion−recovery Fourier transform method as an indicator of chain or group mobility. As for the effect of interconnecting groups on the mobilities of main and side chains, these increased in the following order: ether > ester and tertiary amide > secondary amide. Considerab...