Synthesis of poly(N-tert-butylaziridine) macromonomers and graft copolymers with uniform side chains

Poly(N-tert-butylaziridine) (polyTBA) macromonomers with allylamino-, allyloxy- and methacrylate end-groups were synthesized via deactivation of living polyTBA with appropriate nucleophiles. The macromonomers were copolymerized with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and isoprene (Is). Two types of graft copolymers were obtained: the first one is constituted of hydrophilic backbone (polyNVP or polyHEMA) and hydrophobic uniform polyTBA side chains. The second type is composed of a flexible hydrophobic polyIs backbone and hard hydrophobic polyTBA side chains which, however, become water swellable after quaternization.