Monomers containing polyoxyalkylenes and polymer supports therefrom

1. A monomer which comprises a protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain attached to a polymerisable unit capable of free radical polymerization wherein the protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain contains from 2 to 10 C 2-4 alkyleneoxy groups and wherein the hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain is protected with a poly-aryl methane protecting group.

2. A monomer of formula (1)

wherein

R 1 is an optionally substituted ethylene group;

R 2-4 are independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, halogen, or hydrocarbyloxy;

R 5 is a poly-aryl methane protecting group; and

n is 2 to 10.

3. A monomer according to claim 2 wherein R 1 is a CH═CH 2 , CH═CHCH 3 , or C(CH 3 )═CH 2 group.

4. A monomer according to any of claims 2 or 3 wherein [—C 2-4 alkylene-O—] n is [—CH 2 CH 2 O—] n , [—CH 2 CH(CH 3 )O—] n , [—CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 O—] n or [—CH 2 CH(C 2 H 5 )O—] n .

5. A monomer according to claim 2 wherein R 2-4 are hydrogen.

6. A monomer according to claim 2 wherein R 5 is a poly-aryl methane protecting group of formula:

—CR 6 R 7 R 8

wherein:

R 6 is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted aryl group; and R 7 and R 8 are each independently optionally substituted aryl groups, or R 7 & R 8 are optionally substituted aryl groups which may be linked to form an optionally substituted ring.

7. A monomer according to claim 1 wherein the poly-aryl methane protecting group is an optionally substituted trityl group.

8. A process for the preparation of a polymer support comprising free radical polymerisation of a monomer comprising a protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain attached to a polymerisable unit wherein the protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain contains from 2 to 10 C 2-4 alkyleneoxy groups and wherein the hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain is protected with a poly-aryl methane protecting group, under conditions to produce cross-linking.

9. A process according to claim 8 wherein the monomer comprising a protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain attached to a polymerisable unit is copolymerised in the presence of one or more one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of styrenes, esters of acrylic acid and esters of (meth)acrylic acid, and acrylamides.

10. A process according to claim 8 wherein the monomer comprising a protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain attached to a polymerisable unit is copolymerised in the presence of one, or more cross linking monomers, and one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of styrenes, esters of acrylic acid and esters of (meth)acrylic acid, and acrylamides.

11. A process according to claim 8 wherein the monomer comprising a protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain attached to a polymerisable unit is copolymerised in the presence of divinyl benzene, and styrene.

12. A process according to claim 8 wherein the monomer comprising a protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain attached to a polymerisable unit is a monomer of formula (1)

wherein

R 1 is an optionally substituted ethylene group;

R 2-4 are independently hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, halogen, or hydrocarbyloxy;

R 5 is a poly-aryl methane protecting group; and

n is 2 to 10.

13. A polymer support which comprises protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chains attached to a cross-linked polymer obtained by free radical polymerization wherein the protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain contains from 2 to 10 C 2-4 alkyleneoxy groups and wherein the hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chains are protected with a poly-aryl methane protecting group.

14. A polymer support according to claim 13 wherein the poly-aryl methane protecting group is an optionally substituted trityl group.

15. A polymer support obtained by the process of claim 8 .

16. A process for solid phase organic synthesis which comprises deprotecting a protected solid support, and performing solid phase organic synthesis on the deprotected solid support, wherein the protected solid support is a polymer support according to claim 13 .

17. A process according to claim 9 , wherein the monomer comprising a protected hydroxypolyC 2-4 alkyleneoxy chain attached to a polymerizable unit is copolymerized in the presence of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of styrene, hydroxystyrene, methoxystyrene, methyistyrene, hydroxymethylstyrene, chloromethyl styrene, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, hydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate, N-methyl acrylamide and N-methylol(meth)acrylamide.