Chemical modification of glycidyl methacrylate polymers with 4-hydroxy-4′-methoxybiphenyl groups

Abstract Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), poly(GMA) and a GMA–methyl methacrylate (50–50 mol.%) random copolymer have been modified with 4-hydroxy-4’methoxy biphenyl (4H4MB) moieties through the ring opening reaction of the epoxy group with the aim of demonstrating that the occurrence of limitation of the reaction is due to a steric effect. Chemical modification was determined by 1 H NMR and infrared spectroscopy. In the case of the poly(GMA) modification, limitation in conversion has been observed and it was attributed to the steric hindering effect of the previously grafted moieties, which becomes critical at high conversions. In the modification of the GMA–MMA copolymer, all the epoxy side groups have been modified. In this case the epoxy groups are separated on average by one MMA monomer, which is less voluminous than the GMA and non-reactive, hence the approach of 4H4MB groups is much less perturbed. The fully modified polymer was obtained by polymerization of the modified monomer.