Ruth Bingham a, Andrew F. Parsonsa and Dr Bevinakattib a Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK. b Uniqema, Wilton Centre, Wilton, Redcar. TS10 4RF. UK.

Sugar-containing polymers have potential applications in medicine and biotechnology as well as in surfactants, surface modifiers, hydrogels and chiral templates for asymmetric synthesis. Control of the architecture of the polymers is crucial, particularly for medical and biochemical applications. This project is aimed at achieving this by using radical polymerisation methods starting from vinyl monomers. The emphasis will be on the development of inexpensive, robust, flexible and clean methods, particularly in aqueous media.

A range of sugar-derived unsaturated monomers (e.g. acrylates) will be prepared of the general type shown below.

The polymerisation of these sugar acrylates will be investigated using various radical initiators (e.g. azo compounds, persulfates) under a variety of conditions.

© Department of Chemistry, University of York.