Polymerization Behaviour of Organically Modified Titanium Alkoxides in Solution

Modified titanium alkoxides with polymerizable organic ligands allow the synthesis of copolymers consisting of hybrid organic/inorganic networks. In this work titanium based-precursors were characterized in relation to the polymerization behaviour of the organic matrix. Alkoxide sols were prepared by reaction of methacrylic acid, itaconic acid anhydride, isoeugenol, p-vinylbezoic acid, p-vinylphenylacetic acid, and acetoxyacetomethacrylate with titanium tetraisopropoxide and titanium tetraethoxide. Polymerization reactions were carried out in solution using UV-irradiation and a redox-system of dibenzoylperoxide/N, N-dimethyl-p-toluidine as radical initiators. Especially for chemical activation some complexes showed high reactivity similar to silica-based methacrylates. The systems investigated are capable of acting as adhesive promoters between metal and polymer in dental applications.