Oligomerization, polymerization and copolymerization of substituted and unsubstituted α-methylene-γ-butyrolactones and products thereof

A composition of matter consisting essentially of a mixture of compounds having the structure

• where
• m=0-200, n=0-200 and m+n>1;
• wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group (I) consisting of H, —CH(O), —CN and halogen, and from the group (II) consisting of —C(O)OR5, —C(O)NR6R7, —CR8(O), —C(O)OC(O)R9, —C(O)NR10COR11, —OC(O)R12, —OR13, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl;
• wherein when R1 or R2 are selected from group (II), R1 and R2 may optionally form a cyclic structure;
• R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, and R12 are H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl;
• R13 is alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl;
• and wherein the alkyl and substituted alkyl are C1-C12, and the substituents on the substituted alkyl or substituted aryl contain no functionality which would substantially interfere with free radical polymerization;
• said process carried out at a temperature from about room temperature to about 240° C., optionally in the presence of a solvent;
• wherein Y and Z are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, —CH(O), —CN, halogen, —C(O)OR5, —C(O)NR6R7, —CR8(O), —C(O)OC(O)R9, —C(O)NR10COR11, —OC(O)R12, —OR13, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl;
• Y and Z may be combined in a cyclic structure when Y or Z are C(O)OR5, —C(O)NR6R7, —CR8(O), —C(O)OC(O)R9, —C(O)NR10COR11, —OC(O)R12, —OR13, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, or substituted aryl;
• R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, and R12 are H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl;
• R13 is alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl;
• and
• wherein the alkyl and substituted alkyl are C1-C12, and the substituents on the substituted alkyl or substituted aryl contain no functionality which would substantially interfere with free radical polymerization.

An oligomer of the structure

• where
• m=0-200, n=0-200and m+n>1;
• wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group (I) consisting of H, —CH(O), —CN and halogen, and from the group (II) consisting of —C(O)OR5, —C(O)NR6R7, —CR8(O), —C(O)OC(O)R9, —C(O)NR10COR11, —OC(O)R12, —OR13, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl and substituted aryl;
• wherein when R1 or R2 are selected from group (II), R1 and R2 may optionally form a cyclic structure;
• R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, and R12 are H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl;
• R13 is alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl;
• and wherein the alkyl and substituted alkyl are C1-C12, and the substituents on the substituted alkyl or substituted aryl contain no functionality which would substantially interfere with free radical polymerization;
• said process carried out at a temperature from about room temperature to about 240° C., optionally in the presence of a solvent;
• where Y and Z are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, —CH(O), —CN, halogen, —C(O)OR5, —C(O)NR6R7, —CR8(O), —C(O)OC(O)R9, —C(O)NR10COR11, —OC(O)R12, —OR13, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl;
• Y and Z may be combined in a cyclic structure when Y or Z are C(O)OR5, —C(O)NR6R7, —CR8(O), —C(O)OC(O)R9, —C(O)NR10COR11, —OC(O)R12, —OR13, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, or substituted aryl;
• R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, and R12 are H, alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl;
• R13 is alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl or substituted aryl;
• and
• wherein the alkyl and substituted alkyl are C1-C12, and the substituents on the substituted alkyl or aryl contain no functionality which would substantially interfere with free radical polymerization.