Chromophoric poly(vinyl alcohol derivative)s, 1. Synthesis and spectroscopical characterization of some poly(vinyl alcohol)s with alkoxyazobenzenecarbonyl substituents

The synthesis of new poly[(vinyl 4′-alkoxyazobenzene-4-carboxylate)-co-(vinyl alcohol)]s 4a–c by Einhorn esterification of poly(vinyl alcohol) with 4′-alkoxyazobenzene-4-carbonyl chlorides 3a–c prepared in two steps from 4′-hydroxyazobenzene-4-carboxylic acid ( 1 ) is described. The degree of esterification is found to be about 85 mol-%. Infrared, ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet spectroscopical data of the obtained polymers are determined.