Polymerization of vinyl sugar ester using ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide as a redox reagent

Radical polymerization of water-soluble vinyl sugar esters was examined using ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide to produce hydroxyl radical as a radical initiator in water. Vinyl sugar ester having non-reducing sugar, 6-O-vinyladipoyl α-methyl d-glucoside, was polymerized at lower polymer yield under air atmosphere than that under vacuum condition. Ascorbic acid also reacts with oxygen molecules under air atmosphere to produce superoxide, which is well known as an effective scavenger of hydroxyl radical, so the hydroxyl radical generated with hydrogen peroxide is wasted by reaction with the superoxide. On the other hand, vinyl sugar ester having reducing sugar moiety, 6-O-vinyladipoyl d-glucose, was polymerized by the redox initiator not only under vacuum condition but also under air atmosphere. It was assumed from the consideration and the result that reducing sugar moiety of 6-O-vinyladipoyl d-glucose is involved in the polymerization under air atmosphere.