Synthesis of vinyl oligoesters

The first representative of a novel type of polymerizable oligomers, viz. vinyl oligoesters of the general formula where R is the dicarboxylic acid radical, R′ is the glycol radical and n is the degree of oligomerization have been synthesized and characterized. In the first stage of the synthesis of vinyl oligoesters we obtain an oligoester acid by the esterification of glycols and dicarboxylic acids; in the second stage the oligoester acid is subjected to transvinylation with vinyl acetate. It is shown that the synthesis conditions influence kinetic features of the process; the results obtained enable vinyl oligoesters to be obtained in 80–95% yields. A study was made of the MWD of vinyl oligoesters; it was found that the MWD approximates to the most probable distribution.