Preparation of a functional monomer containing polymerisable double bonds and chain transfer sulfhydryl groups

Methacrylate functional monomers containing polymerisable double bonds and sulphhydryl group were synthesised using (methyl) hydroxyethyl (propyl) acrylate and mercaptopropionic acid as precursors with benzene (toluene, ethyl acetate, ether) as solvent and aqueous agent, p-toluene sulphonic acid as catalyst, hydroquinone as polymerisation inhibitor. The yield of methacrylate functional monomers was more than 90%. The structure and purity of methacrylate functional monomers was characterised by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The precursor material source is of low cost and widely available, and the product did not need to be purified by a special method, which means that it can be directly used for the synthesis of vinyl branched polymer. Therefore, the price of vinyl branched polymer can be greatly reduced and the application range of vinyl branched polymer can be greatly expanded.