Abstract: | Synthesis of a vinyl monomer, containing a 32‐membered crown ether unit (VCE) as a pendant group, was achieved by using tetra(ethylene glycol) dichloride, resorcinol, and 3,5‐dihydroxyacetophenone as starting materials. The product was identified by means of FTIR and 1H‐NMR. It was found that this monomer readily polymerizes by the conventional radical initiator 2,2′‐ azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) to afford a polymer whose number‐average molecular weight is 36 kg/mol; however, the final conversion of the polymer was < 80%. The results of the copolymerization of VCE with styrene (ST) or acrylonitrile (AN) are also discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2372–2379, 2002 |