Synthesis of Highly Reactive Polymer Nitrile N-Oxides for Effective Solvent-Free Grafting.

A one-pot synthesis of polymer nitrile N-oxides was achieved via the Michael addition of living polymer anions derived from vinyl monomers to commercially available trans-β-nitrostyrene and subsequent dehydration with concd H2SO4. The polymer nitrile N-oxides are effective as grafting agents in catalyst- and solvent-free 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions to unsaturated-bond-containing polymers with high conversion and exhibit higher reactivity compared to that of nitrile N-oxides prepared from 1,1-diphenylnitroethene. Application to the preparation of a functional glass surface was demonstrated using PtBMA nitrile N-oxide as a grafting agent.