Homopolymerization of N-pyrimidinyl acrylamide

Homopolymerization of N-pyrimidinyl acrylamide (NPA) was reported for the first time. The polymer (polyNPA) was soluble only in acidic media and fluoroalcohols, and only in fluoroalcohol was homogeneous polymerization of NPA feasible. 1H NMR analysis proved that a 1:1 H-bonding complex could be formed between NPA and α,α-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl propan-2-ol (BTMP). Cumyl dithiobenzoate mediated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of NPA in BTMP was carried out. 1H NMR analyses proved that the molecular weight increased linearly with the monomer conversion. The polymer prepared in conventional solvents was atactic while in protic media the syndiotacticity was slightly enhanced.