Technological aspects of synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol) mono-1-propenyl ether monomers

For the first time, the technological aspects of the highly productive and selective synthesis of UV-reactive poly(ethylene glycol) mono-1-propenyl ether monomers was developed. The solvent-free isomerization of model commercial available 2-allyloxyethanol and allyloxypoly(ethylene glycol) derivatives, type Allyl–[OCH₂CH₂]_n–OH, n = 1–5, into a 1-propenyl derivative under the homogeneous catalysis conditions using the ruthenium complexes were evaluated. The effect of a various reaction conditions (i.e. the concentration of [Ru] complex, the reaction temperature, reaction gas atmosphere) together with trace amounts of allyl hydroperoxides formed via autoxidation reaction of allyl substrates on the productivity of catalyst was examined in detail. Moreover, the significant role of the allyl substrate structures on the catalytic activity of ruthenium catalysts were also recognized. The optimal parameters of the scaled-up synthesis together with productivity of catalyst were first established.