Poly(α-methyleneglutarimide)s from radical polymerization of α-methyleneglutarimides

α-Methyleneglutaric acid, a metabolite of niacin (nicotinic acid), can be easily converted to its cyclic anhydride. We report here the first conversion of α-methyleneglutaric anhydride to (a series of) α-methyleneglutarimides. These monomers can be radically polymerized to the title polymers. These have relatively high glass transition properties compared to the lower homologs derived from itaconimides (α-methylenesuccinimides).