Synthesis of poly( N ‐ tert ‐butylaziridine) macromonomers and graft copolymers with uniform side chains

Poly( N ‐tert‐butylaziridine) (polyTBA) macromonomers with allylamino‐, allyloxy‐ and methacrylate end‐groups were synthesized via deactivation of living polyTBA with appropriate nucleophiles. The macromonomers were copolymerized with N ‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NVP), 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and isoprene (Is). Two types of graft copolymers were obtained: the first one is constituted of hydrophilic backbone (polyNVP or polyHEMA) and hydrophobic uniform polyTBA side chains. The second type is composed of a flexible hydrophobic polyIs backbone and hard hydrophobic polyTBA side chains which, however, become water swellable after quaternization.