Synthesis of phosphonated styrenic copolymers and their chemical modifications

We report, for the first time, the synthesis of a phosphonated styrenic monomer dimethyl vinylbenzyl phosphonate (VBP) according to the methods described in the literature for its equivalent diethyl vinylbenzyl phosphonate, and also the monodealkylation of this monomer (VBP) to the monosalt in a neutral medium and to the corresponding monoacid via a sulfonic resin. Various statistical copolymers and statistical block copolymers of styrene and VBP were prepared with different molar percentages of these comonomers. The dealkylation of statistical copolymers was carried out in the same way as for VBP. The phosphonated statistical copolymers, prepared, were characterized by various analytical methods which show good agreement with their structures. (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.