| Abstract: | New ω‐methacryloxy‐terminated N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone oligomers were prepared by reaction of the corresponding ω‐hydroxy‐terminated N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone oligomers with 2‐(1‐imidazolyl)formyloxy] ethyl methacrylate (HEMA‐Im). The oligomeric precursor had been obtained by radical chain transfer polymerization making use of isopropoxyethanol as a solvent and a chain transfer agent. α,ω‐Dimethacryloxy‐terminated ε‐caprolactone and δ‐valerolactone oligomers were also prepared by reaction of their α‐hydroxy‐ω‐methacryloxy‐terminated precursors with HEMA‐Im. These had been in turn synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of the corresponding lactones in the presence of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate as the initiator and tin octanoate as the catalyst. Due to the presence of methacrylic functions at their chain ends, both VP and lactone oligomers participate in radical polymerization reactions and can be therefore classified as radical macromers. Both macromer families have several potential applications, such as use in the synthesis of mixed hydrophilic/hydrophobic hydrogels. All macromers were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC). The polymerization kinetics of the lactone macromers were also analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. |
