Polymerization of lactams, 38. Copolymerization of 6-caprolactam with some of its non-homopolymerizing derivatives

It was demonstrated that non-homopolymerizing derivatives of 6-caprolactam: 7-cyclohexyl-1-aza-2-cycloheptanone (I) and 7-isopropyl-5-methyl-1-aza-2-cycloheptanone (II) were polymerizing with 6-caprolactam under conditions of the socalled hydrolytic polymerization. With its increasing content in the initial reaction mixture the copolymerization rate, the equilibrium content of the copolymer, and the reduced viscosity decreased. Lactam (I) was a more reactive comonomer in comparison with lactam (II).