Unsaturated esters of N-(β-hydroxyethyl) lactams
A general method is developed for synthesizing methacrylic esters with a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered lactam ring β to the carboxyl group, by reacting the sodio-derivatives of the lactams with β-chloroethyl methacrylate. The esters synthesized are prone to thermal polymerization, and able to copolymerize with other monomers in the presence of azodiisobutyronitrile. The following copolymers are prepared; β-(N-pyrrolidonyl) ethyl acrylate with methyl acrylate, β-(N-pyrrolidonyl) ethyl, β-(N-2-oxotetramethyleneimino) ethyl, and β-(N-2-oxopentamethyleneimino) ethyl methacrylates withmethyl methacrylate.