Copolymerization of vinylene carbonate

The copolymerization of vinylene carbonate VC (M₂) with several vinyl monomers (M₁) has been examined. The reactivity ratios r₂ and r₁ have been determined in the system VC‐vinyl acetate (0.27 and 3.0), VC‐vinyl chloride (0.09 and 5.2), VC‐vinylpyrrolidone (0.4 and 0.7), VC‐methyl methacrylate (<0.01 and ∼70). These values indicate for vinylene carbonate in the Alfrey‐Price scheme a reactivity Q equal to 0.012 and a polarity e of −0.6. From the r₁ and r₂ parameters of the system vinyl acetatevinylpyrrolidone (0.38 and 0.44, respectively) the Q and e values of vinylpyrrolidone have also been determined: Q = 0.11 and e = −1.6. The copolymers of vinylene carbonate and vinyl acetate yield on hydrolysis polyalcohols (CH₂CHOH)_x(CHOH)_y of which the solubility decreases with increasing content of hydroxyl groups.