Cellulose ether-lactam hybrid polymers, compositions, and methods for preparing and using the hybrid polymers

Abstract

The present invention provides novel hybrid polymers having unique physical properties. The hybrid polymers comprise a cellulose ether moiety, a linking group moiety, a spacer group moiety, and a lactam moiety. The present invention also provides compositions comprising the hybrid polymers and methods for preparing and using the hybrid polymers. In a first embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:A-(L-S—(B))wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; Lis a linking group moiety selected from the group consisting of urethanes, amides, esters, carbonates, and phosphate esters, or is derived from a moiety selected from the group consisting of anhydrides, cyclic ethers, and aziridines; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein k≥1 and q≥1. In a second embodiment, the hybrid polymers have the structure:A-(L-S—B)wherein A is derived from a cellulose ether moiety comprising a —OH group; Lis an ether linking group moiety; S is a spacer group moiety, selected from the group consisting of straight- or branched-chain functionalized and unfunctionalized alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, and aryl groups, wherein any of the above groups may be with or without heteroatoms, or is a direct bond; and B is a lactam moiety; wherein y≥1; with the proviso that when the cellulose ether moiety is hydroxyethyl cellulose, -(L-S—B)is not derived from 1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone.