Thermochemical reactions in polycomplexes

Polycomplex formation between poly(methacrylic acid) and polyacrylamide in aqueous solutions has been studied by means of viscometry, potentionetry and elemental analysis. Stoichiometry of the polycomplex was found to be 1:1 with respect to unit-moles. I.R.-spectroscopic data give evidence of the co-existence of ladder-like regions and loops in the polycomplexes formed by poly(methacrylic acid) with polyacrylamide and poly(ethylene glycol). The reactivities of the same functional groups in ladder-like regions and loops are different. This difference has been shown taking as an example thermochemical reactions in the above polycomplexes. Dehydrocyclization in the poly(methacrylic acid) chain was found to occur in the loops of both polycomplexes. This intramolecular reaction in the polycomplex of poly(methacrylic acid) with polyacrylamide is followed by intermolecular formation of imide bonds in ladder-like regions.