Copolymerization of 2-vinyloxyethyl isothiocyanate with acrylic acid

Depending on the reaction conditions, radical copolymerization of 2-vinyloxyethyl isothiocyanate with acrylic acid yields linear alternating oligomers, partially cross-linked and strongly swelling copolymers, and densely cross-linked polymeric products of a porous network structure. It was shown that, in strongly swelling polymeric products, the cross-links are formed not only by the cross-linking agent but also by the units formed in the reaction of isothiocyanate and carboxyl groups of the comonomers. Sol-gel analysis of the polymerizing system was performed, and some kinetic data describing the copolymerization were obtained.