Poly(vinyl methyl ether)

Poly(methyl vinyl ether) solution can be used asa precursor to synthesize thermosensitive microgels.

Vinyl ethers are prepared by reaction of acetylene and alcohols in the presence of the potassium alkoxide as catalyst:

For the production of polymers, methyl, ethyl and isobutyl vinyl ethers are the most common monomers.
Vinyl ethers are susceptible only to cationic polymerization. In a typical process, methyl vinyl ether is agitated with boron trifluoride (BF 3. 2H20). The temperature is kept at about l0 by cooling for 3-4 hours; the reactor is then sealed and the temperature allowed to rise to 100C. Reaction is complete in about 10 hours and the polymer is obtained as a viscous mass. It is interesting to note that poly(vinyl isobuty ether) may be obtained in crystalline form by conducting polymerization at - 80 to -60C in liquid propane using boron trifluoride etherate as initiator. This was the first stereoregular polymerization to be achieved. Incidentally, isotactic polymer has also been prepared by the use of Ziegler-Natta type catalysts and this was the first indication that these catalysts could polymerize a suitable monomer by a cationic mechanism.
Poly(vinyl methyl ether) is water-soluble and is used in adhesive and textile sizes. The ethyl and isobutyl polymers find use in pressure-sensitive adhesives.

ChEBI: A macromolecule composed of repeating methoxyethyl groups.

Alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, esters, glycols, glycol esters, water