Macromonomers having reactive side groups

A method of producing reinforced polymers comprising:

• mixing macromonomers having the structure ##STR30## wherein each A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, and A.sub.4, on each monomer unit, independently, is C or N;
• each G.sub.1, G.sub.2, G.sub.3, and G.sub.4, on each monomer unit, independently, is selected from the group consisting of H, solubilizing side groups, reactive side groups, and reactive solubilizing side groups, provided that (1) at least one monomer unit has at least one solubilizing side group and at least one reactive side group, or (2) at least one monomer unit has at least one reactive solubilizing side group, and provided that when any of A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, and A.sub.4 is N, the corresponding G.sub.1, G.sub.2, G.sub.3, or G.sub.4 is nil;
• the macromonomer has a degree of polymerization, DP.sub.n, greater than about 6;
• and adjacent monomer units are oriented head-to-head, head-to-tail, or randomly, with one or more preformed polymers;
• and
• forming chemical bonds between the macromonomers and said one or more preformed polymers, wherein bond formation proceeds in an order selected from the group consisting of bond formation simultaneous with mixing, bond formation subsequent to mixing, and bond formation both simultaneous with and subsequent to mixing of the macromonomers and said one or more preformed polymers.

A reinforced polymeric material, comprising:

• ##STR31## wherein each A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, and A.sub.4, on each monomer unit, independently, is C or N;
• each G.sub.1, G.sub.2, G.sub.3, and G.sub.4, on each monomer unit, independently, is selected from the group consisting of H, solubilizing side groups, reactive side groups, and reactive solubilizing side groups, provided that (1) at least one monomer unit has at least one solubilizing side group and at least one reactive side group, or (2) at least one monomer unit has at least one reactive solubilizing side group, and provided that when any of A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, and A.sub.4 is N, the corresponding G.sub.1, G.sub.2, G.sub.3, or G.sub.4 is nil;
• the macromonomer has a degree of polymerization, DP.sub.n, greater than about 6;
• and adjacent monomer units are oriented head-to-head, head-to-tail, or randomly;
• and
• at least one preformed polymer, blended with the macromonomer.