Polymeric material

Abstract

There is described a method of preparing a first polymeric compound which comprises a providing a compound of general formula (I) or a salt thereof where A and B are the same or different and at least one comprises a relatively polar atom or group and R 1 and R 2 independently comprise relatively non-polar atoms or groups, in a solvent of a type in which ethene itself is generally insoluble and causing the groups C═C in said compound to react with one another to form a polymeric structure. The first polymeric compound may be reacted with a second compound, for example polyvinylalcohol, collagen or the like to produce a colloid or gel which may have applications in the treatment or bums or recovery of oils.

1 . A method of preparing a first polymeric compound which comprises providing a compound of general formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or a salt thereof where a and b are the same or different and at least one comprises a relatively polar atom or group and R 1  and R 2  independently comprise relatively non-polar atoms or groups, in a solvent of a type in which ethene itself is generally insoluble and causing the groups C═C in said compound to react with one another to form a polymeric structure:  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently selected from a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein said solvent is a polar solvent.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said compound of general formula I is provided in said solvent at a concentration at which molecules of said compound aggregate.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the groups C═C in said compound are caused to react in a photochemical reaction.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein A and B are independently selected from optionally-substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkynyl, aromatic and heteroaromatic groups.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to any preceding claim, wherein A and B each independently represent optionally-substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic groups.  
     
     
         8 . A novel first polymeric compound having the formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein A and B are the same or different and at least one comprises a relatively polar atom or group, R 1  and R 2  independently comprise relatively non-polar atoms or groups and n is an integer.  
     
     
         9 . A method of preparing a formulation comprising providing a first polymeric compound prepared in a method according to any of  claims 1  to  7  or according to  claim 8  in a solvent together with a second polymeric compound and intimately mixing the compounds.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein said second polymeric compound includes one or more functional groups capable of reacting with said first polymeric compound.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein said second polymeric compound is selected from optionally substituted polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylacetate, polyalkylene glycols and collagen (and any component thereof).  
     
     
         12 . A formulation comprising a first polymeric compound prepared in a process according to any of  claims 1  to  7  or as described in  claim 8  and a second compound as described in any of  claims 9  to  11 .  
     
     
         13 . A method of preparing a material, the method comprising providing a mixture prepared as described in any of  claims 9  to  11  or a formulation according to  claim 12  in a solvent and causing the first and second compounds to react with one another.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein an acid is provided.  
     
     
         15 . A method of collecting and/or isolating and/or emulsifying oil (or the like) which comprises contacting oil (or the like) with a reaction mixture according to  claim 13  or  claim 14  so that said oil (or the like) becomes incorporated into a material which forms.  
     
     
         16 . A material preparable by a method according to any of  claims 13  to  15 .