9422885 Mathias This project encompasses fundamental investigations of monomer synthesis and polymerizations based on multifunctional acrylates. Recent results demonstrate the ability to control rates of polymerization for monoacrylates with a variety of pendant functional groups at the alpha methyl position including halides, ethers and especially esters. The latter display unexpectedly rapid polymerizations which make them excellent candidates for hard and rapidly generated thin films via photopolymerizations. Diacrylates linked at the alpha methyl position with ether, carbon and amine or amide groups provide entry to high glass-transition-temperature materials with multiple functionality pendant from the polymer backbone. The steric and electronic effects of these substituents on the efficiency and stereochemistry of the cyclopolymerization process leading to 5-and/or 6-membered rings in the polymer backbone will be explored. The combination of pendant groups that can be incoprorated makes possible applications in microlithography, biological and drug uses, catalytic and supernculeophilic reagent materials, and modifiers for commercially important acrylates and methacrylates. %%% This project encompasses new monomers and polymers which lead to materials with greatly improved physical and chemical properties. These materials have enhanced capabilities for use in photolithography and microelectronics, anti-cancer and biological materials, surface coatings and encapsulation, and property enhancers for currently used acrylate, methacrylate, and stryrenic materials. ***
