Preparation and polymerization of thyroxine methacrylate monomers

Thyroxine methyl ester amides of mono-, di-, and tri-glycyl methacrylates have been prepared. Water-soluble polymers formed from thyroxine methacrylate monomers by free-radical copolymerization with acrylamide had molecular weights of (2–4) × 10⁴ (by viscometry). A fluorescent polymer was prepared by copolymerization with a fluorescein methacrylate monomer. Similarly, a polymeric thyroxine material was prepared with amine functionality by copolymerization with N-3-aminopropylmethacrylamide. These polymers may have interesting biological and immunochemical properties.