Monomers for adhesive polymers, 17.a Synthesis,photopolymerization and adhesive properties of polymerizable phosphonic acids bearing urea groups

Four polymerizable phosphonic acids bearing urea groups 4a, 4b, 9a, and 9b as well as the 10-(methacryloyloxy)decylphosphonic acid 10 were synthesized in four to six steps. They were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and by high-resolution mass spectroscopy. Contrary to methacrylates 4a and 4b, methacrylamides 9a and 9b were hydrolytically stable in deuterated water/deuterated ethanol solutions. The photopolymerization behavior of acidic monomers 4a, 4b, 9a, 9b, and 10 and their corresponding phosphonates were studied using a differential scanning calorimeter. Homopolymerizations and copolymerizations with N-butyl-N-ethylacrylamide were carried out. The presence of a urea group was found to significantly increase the rate of polymerization. Monomers bearing a phosphonic acid group were more reactive than their corresponding phosphonates. Self-etch adhesives based on monomers 4a, 4b, 9a, and 9b were able to provide a strong bond between a composite and the dental hard tissues (dentin and enamel). The presence of a urea group led to a significant increase in the shear bond strength to both dentin and enamel.