A series of itaconate monomers

e.g. 4 Methyl 1 (2 pyrrolidinonylethyl) itaconate (PyEMI)

4 i Propyl 1 (2 pyrrolidinonylethyl) itaconate (PyEPrI)

4 n Butyl 1 (2 pyrrolidinonylethyl) itaconate (PyEBuI)

4 Benzyl 1 (2 pyrrlolidinonylethyl) itaconate (PyEBzI) and 4 (2 Phenylethyl) 1 (2 pyrrlolidinonylethyl) itaconate (PyEPhEI)) were synthesized by reaction of 1 (2 hydroxyethyl) 2 pyrrolidinone with corresponding itaconic monoester chlorides. They were polymerized by photo initiated free-radical polymerization.The properties of the monomers and polymers were characterized by GPC

DSC

TGA

swelling ratio and refractive indices.The molecular weights of the polymers may reach 1～2×104.The refractive indexes of P(PyEBzI)

P(PyEPhEI) are larger then those of P(pYemi)

P(PyEPrI) and P(PrEBuI).The EWC values of P(PyEBzI)

P(PyEPhEI) are also higher than those of P(PyEPrI) and P(PyEBuI) but The EWC value of P(PyEMI) is up to 89%.The decomposition temperatures of P(PyEPrI) and P(PyEBzI)

due to the steric hindrance effect.