Copolymer Synthesis of N-Vinylacetamide and 2-Methylene-1,3-Dioxepane Provides a New Degradable Polymer

Abstract

N-vinylamides, especially noncyclic N-vinylacetamide (NVA), have been used in various applications such as biomaterials, surfactants, and hydrogels. However, their potential to copolymerize with cyclic ketene acetal (CKA) to create degradable polymers is underexplored. Much research has been done on 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO), a seven-membered CKA, and its ability to introduce ester groups into copolymers. It also demonstrates a higher propensity for ring-opening polymerization (ROP) than its six- and five-membered analogs. This research employs radical ring-opening polymerization to synthesize poly(NVA-co-MDO) copolymers, which incorporate ester units in their backbone. We have successfully synthesized a degradable copolymer of poly(NVA-co-MDO) with 9.5% MDO incorporated into the copolymer using a free radical initiator, 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) at 60°C for 15 min in bulk polymerization. The resulting copolymers exhibit degradation under alkaline conditions, making them a promising candidate for environmentally friendly materials. This work represents a step forward in developing degradable polymers with potential in biomedical and industrial applications.