SYNTHESIS OF TELECHELIC ACRYLIC OLIGOMERS BY THE OZONOLYSIS OF ACRYLIC DIENE COPOLYMERS AND TER-POLYMERS

Telechelic methyl methacrylate (MMA) oligomers with hydroxyl end-groups have been prepared by ozonolysis of statistical MMA/buta-1,3-diene (BU) copolymers followed by reductive work-up of the ozonides. Ozonolysis of some butyl acrylate (BA)/2,3-diphenylbuta-1,3-diene copolymers followed by oxidative work-up of the ozonides has yielded phenyl ketone-ended BA oligomers whilst ozonolysis of MMA/isoprene copolymers has given MMA oligomers with a mixture of carboxylic acid and methyl ketone end-groups. Co-oligomers of BA and MMA with carboxylic acid end-groups have been synthesized from MMA/BA/BU terpolymers. In all cases, the oligomers have high terminal difunctionalities and predictable molecular weights and molecular weight distributions. The oligomers have the potential to be chain extended to give novel block copolymers or to be used in reactive processing applications.