Synthesis of a polyvinyl-polyamino acid graft copolymer

A copolymer having reactive primary amino groups was synthesized by the copolymerization of styrene and N-methyl-N-(4-vinylphenethyl)ethylenediamine ( 1 ). Polymerization of N-carboxy amino acid anhydrides (NCA's) of L -alanine, γ-benzyl-L -glutamate, or β-benzyl-L -aspartate was initiated by the primary amino groups of this copolymer to give a novel polyvinyl-polyamino acid graft copolymer.