Alternate copolymerization of diallylamine derivatives [(CH2CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH2)2NR; R = Me, (CH2)3PO(OEt)2, and CH2PO(OEt)2] (I)-maleic acid (MA) and (I·HCl)-SO2 pairs have been carried out thermally using ammonium persulfate initiator as well as UV radiation at a λ of 365 nm. The reactivity ratios of ≈0 for the monomers in each pair I-MA and I·HCl-SO2 ensured their alternation in each copolymer. However, numerous attempted terpolymerizations of I-MA-SO2 failed to entice MA to participate to any meaningful extent. In contrast to reported literature, only 1-2 mol% of MA was incorporated into the polymer chain mainly consisting of poly(I-alt-SO2). Quaternary diallyldialkylammonium chloride [(CH2[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-CH2)2N+R2Cl-; R = Me, Et] (II) also, did not participate in II-MA-SO2 terpolymerizations. Poly((I, R = Me)-alt-SO2) III is a stimuli-responsive polyampholyte; its transformation under pH-induced changes to cationic, polyampholyte-anionic, and dianionic polyelectrolytes has been examined by viscosity measurements. The pK a of two carboxylic acid groups and NH+ in III has been determined to be 2.62, 5.59, and 10.1. PA III, evaluated as a potential antiscalant in reverse osmosis plants, at the concentrations of 5 and 20 ppm, imparted ≈100% efficiency for CaSO4 scale inhibition from its supersaturated solution for over 50 and 500 min, respectively, at 40 °C. The synthesis of PA III in excellent yields from cheap starting materials and its very impressive performance may grant PA III a prestigious place as an environment-friendly phosphate-free antiscalant.
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