Method to prepare amidated polymers

A method for manufacturing an amidated polymer, the method comprising:

• a) providing a polymer having a polymer backbone and at least one side-chain comprising a group A represented by formula (I)
• wherein
• represents any atom or group that is part of the polymer backbone, or part of the side-chain attached to the polymer backbone;
• and
• R1 is a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched alkyl group;
• b) providing a compound of formula (II)
• wherein
• R2 is selected from H and methyl;
• R3 is a bivalent radical selected from substituted or unsubstituted, cyclic or linear alkylene, aminoalkylene, and oxyalkylene;
• R4 is a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched C2-C10 alkyl group;
• c) reacting the polymer provided at step a) with the compound provided at step b);
• and
• d) obtaining an amidated polymer having one or more side-chains of formula (III)

An amidated polymer having one or more side-chains of formula (V),

• wherein
• R2 is selected from H and methyl;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted, cyclic or linear bivalent radical selected from alkylene, aminoalkylene, and oxyalkylene;
• R4 is a substituted or unsubstituted, linear or branched C2-C10 alkyl group;
• X is a spacer optionally present, selected from ethyl, propyl, and butyl;
• and
• represents any atom or group which is part of the polymer backbone, or of the side-chain attached to the polymer backbone.