| Abstract: | This paper describes a new ring-opening-closing alternating copolymerization (ROCAC) of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline (five-membered cyclic imino ether, 1 ) with N-methyldiacrylamide ( 2 ). The reaction of a 1 : 1 monomer feed ratio proceeded without any added catalyst to give an alternating copolymer 3 having two structural units formed by ring-opening and ring-closing (cyclization). The structure of copolymer 3 was determined by 1H, 13C NMR, and IR spectroscopies. The extent of cyclization was at most 65%. The copolymerization was reasonably explained by a mechanism of propagation via zwitterion intermediates. |
