SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW POLY(METHACRYLAMIDE) BEARING SIDE GROUPS OF BIOMEDICAL INTEREST

This paper reports the synthesis and polymerization of a new methacrylamide derivative, N-[4-(4-methoxyphenylacetyloxy)phenyl]methacrylamide, which supports functional side groups of potential biomedical interest. Polymers obtained by free radical polymerization in a solution of N,N-dimethylformamide at moderate temperatures were characterized by H-1 and C-13 n.m.r., being predominantly syndiotactic, with an isotacticity parameter sigma = 0.19, somewhat lower than that of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA, sigma = 0.22) or poly[N-(4-methacryloyloxyphenyl), 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-acetamide][poly(OM), sigma = 0.27]. This behaviour seems to be a consequence of the stiffness of the methacrylamide side groups with respect to the methacrylic ester function of poly(OM) and PMMA.