PREPARATION OF CO-AND TERPOLYMERS OF P-HYDROXYSTYRENE AND ALKYL ACRYLATES

摘要

A novel one-pot cost efficient process for the preparation of co- and terpolymers of p-hydroxystyrene or substituted p-hydroxystyrene and alkyl acrylates is disclosed and claimed. The process involves polymerization of esters of p-hydroxystyrene (or its substituted analogs), alkyl acrylate monomers and one or more of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in an alcoholic solvent in the presence of a free radical initiator. Subsequent hydrolysis of so formed polymer under transesterification conditions using catalytic amounts of base catalyst results in co- and/or terpolymers of p-hydroxystyrene without cleavage of the alkyl ester in the acrylate repeat unit. Preferred embodiments include copolymer of p-hydroxytyrene and tert-butyl acrylate and terpolymer of p-hydroxystyrene, tert-butyl acrylate and styrene. These polymers have a wide variety of applications including as photoresists in microelectronics industry.