Silicone-containing block copolymers and macromonomers

Copolymeric macromonomers containing alkyl acrylate and methacrylate units and units of polysiloxanylalkyl esters of acrylic and/or methacrylic acids and a terminal carbon-carbon double bond organo group are useful for copolymerizing with other acrylate or methacrylate esters to make improved polymer compositions such as for contact lenses.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to novel linear acrylic block copolymers and 
macromonomers containing polysiloxanyl groups which can be used, for 
example, to improve the properties of polymer compositions used in contact 
lens applications. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,808,178 and 4,120,570, issued to N. E. Gaylord in 1974 and 
1978 respectively, concerns linear random copolymers of polysiloxanyl and 
alkyl acrylates and methacrylates which have increased oxygen 
permeability, as compared to the alkyl methacrylates alone for example. 
Use of the polymers in contact lenses for correcting visual defects of the 
human eye is taught. Further modifications of such polymers with an 
itaconate ester, and preferably including a crosslinking agent and a 
hydrophilic monomer, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,508 issued to E. 
J. Ellis et al. (1979). 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,248 issued to G. D. Friends et al. (1981) concerns 
acrylate and methacrylate soft contact lenses using as a comonomer 
polysiloxanes end-capped with polymerizable unsaturated groups. The 
copolymers have high tear strengths and a high modulus of elasticity. Such 
comonomers are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,546 issued to W. G. 
Deichert et al. (1980) to make polymeric shaped articles for biomedical 
applications. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,116, issued to R. Milkovich et al. in 1974 discloses 
the use of macromonomers containing a polymerizable carbon-carbon double 
bond to make graft copolymers comprising a backbone polymer chain and 
bonded thereto a linear polymer which forms copolymerized sidechains on 
the backbone. In other words, the macromonomer is interposed between 
polymeric segments of the backbone polymer. 
In the prior art, as represented for example by the above Gaylord patents, 
improvements in one polymer property by copolymerization, such as oxygen 
permeability, are frequently gained at the expense of another property, 
such as hardness or machineability. Optical clarity must remain unaffected 
as well. Improved methods and materials which can provide polymeric 
contact lens compositions having improved combinations of properties 
remain highly desirable. 
An object of this invention is a novel acrylic block copolymer or 
macromonomer which is compatible with and can be used as a constituent in 
polymer compositions for contact lenses to provide improved properties. 
Another object is a novel macromonomer which can be incorporated into 
polysiloxanyl-, alkyl-(meth)acrylate copolymers (i.e. soluble in the other 
monomers) during bulk polymerization of the comonomers to provide a 
branched copolymer having a novel combination of oxygen permeability and 
hardness while not adversely affecting optical clarity. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention provides a novel silicone-containing acrylic block 
copolymer, preferably a macromonomer, comprised of: 
(a) 10-90% by weight, preferably 25-75%, of one or more monomers having the 
formula 
##STR1## 
and mixtures thereof wherein: X is --CN, --CH.dbd.CHC(O)X' or --C(O)X'; Y 
is --H, --CH.sub.3, --CN or --CO.sub.2 R, provided, however, when X is 
--CH.dbd.CHC(O)X', Y is --H or --CH.sub.3 ; X' is --OSi(R).sub.3, --R, 
--OR or --NR'R"; each R is independently selected from C.sub.1-20 alkyl, 
alkenyl, or alkadienyl or C.sub.6-20 cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl or aralkyl, 
any of said groups optionally containing one or more ether oxygen atoms 
within aliphatic segments thereof and optionally containing one or more 
functional substituents that are unreactive under polymerizing conditions; 
and each of R' and R" is independently selected from C.sub.1-4 alkyl; and 
(b) 90-10% by weight, preferably 75 to 25%, of one or more 
polysiloxanylalkyl esters having the formula 
##STR2## 
where D and E are selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 
alkyl groups, phenyl groups, and groups of the structure 
##STR3## 
where A is selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 alkyl 
groups and phenyl groups; m is an integer from one to five; and n is an 
integer from one to three; R.sub.2 is --H or --CH.sub.3. 
Preferably attached to only one end of said copolymer molecules, to form a 
macromonomer, is a terminal organo group containing a polymerizable 
carbon-carbon double bond. 
Said double bond permits the macromonomer to copolymerize with other olefin 
monomers, especially (meth)acrylic monomers, to form branched copolymers 
of the olefin monomers and the macromonomer. Such copolymerization 
chemically incorporates the macromonomer into the copolymer as a side 
branch. 
As used herein the term "(meth)acrylate" refers to methacrylate and/or 
acrylate groups.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The copolymers of this invention are preferably block copolymers. In 
particular, the polysiloxanylalkyl ester units are in a single block 
segment of the molecule, which block is preferably adjacent to the 
terminal double-bond-containing organo group. 
The double-bond-containing terminal group can be linked to the end of the 
copolymer by means of a urethane, ester, ether or amide linkage. 
Representative monomers of the first (non-siloxanyl) group above include, 
but are not limited to, the following: methyl methacrylate (abbreviated 
herein as MMA), butyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methyl acrylate, 
ethyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 
hydroxyethyl acrylate, glyceryl methacrylate, sorbyl acrylate and 
methacrylate; 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl 
acrylate; 3,3-dimethoxypropyl acrylate; 3-methacryloxypropyl acrylate; 
2-acetoxyethyl methacrylate; p-tolyl methacrylate; 
2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutyl acrylate; methylene malononitrile; ethyl 
2-cyanoacrylate; N,N-dimethyl acrylamide; 4-fluorophenyl acrylate; 
2-methacryloxyethyl acrylate and linoleate; propyl vinyl ketone ethyl 
2-chloroacrylate; glycidyl methacrylate; 3-methoxypropyl methacrylate; 
2[(1-propenyl)oxy]ethyl methacrylate and acrylate; phenyl acrylate; 
2-(trimethyloloxy)ethyl methacrylate; allyl acrylate and methacrylate. 
Preferred monomers include methyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate; 
sorbyl methacrylate; ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate; sorbyl acrylate; 
2-(trimethylsiloxy)ethyl methacrylate; 2-methacryloxyethyl acrylate, 
2-acetoxyethyl methacrylate; and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate. 
Methyl methacrylate is most preferred because of its availability, cost 
and performance among other things. 
Representative polysiloxanylalkyl ester monomers which can be employed 
include: pentamethyldisiloxanylmethyl methacrylate, 
heptamethyltrisiloxanylethyl acrylate, 
tris(trimethylsiloxy)-gamma-(methacryloxypropylsilane which is abbreviated 
as TRIS, phenyltetramethyldisiloxanylethyl acrylate, 
phenyltetraethyldisiloxanylether methacrylate, 
triphenyldimethyldisiloxanylmethyl acrylate, 
isobutylhexamethyltrisiloxanylmethyl methacrylate, 
methyldi(trimethylsiloxy)-methacryloxymethylsilane, 
n-propyloctamethyltetrasiloxanyl propyl methacrylate, 
pentamethyldi(trimethylsiloxy)-acryloxymethylsilane, 
t-butyltetramethyldisiloxanylethyl acrylate, 
n-pentylhexamethyltrisiloxanylmethyl methacrylate, and 
tri-i-propyltetramethyltrisiloxanylethyl acrylate. 
Other useful macromonomer ingredients and polymerization techniques are 
found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,034--Webster, in columns 2-9 which is 
incorporated herein by reference. 
In the preparation of the (meth)acrylic macromonomer block copolymers of 
the present invention, good use can be made of the known "group transfer" 
polymerization process of the general type described in part by W. B. 
Farnham and D. Y. Sogah, U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,372 and by O. W. Webster, 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,034 and in continuation-in-part U.S. Pat. Nos. 
4,508,880, Webster, granted Apr. 2, 1985, and 4,524,196 Farnham and Sogah, 
granted June 18, 1985. 
"Group transfer" initiators that are useful in the polymerization include 
but are not limited to the following: 
1-(2-trimethylsiloxy)ethoxy-1-trimethylsiloxy-2-methylpropene, 
methoxy-[(2-methyl-1-propenyl)oxy]trimethylsilane; 
(trimethysilyl)isobutyronitrile; ethyl 2-(trimethylsilyl)acetate; methyl 
2-methyl-2-(tributylstannyl)propanoate; 
[(2-methyl-1-cyclohexenyl)oxy]tributylstannane; trimethylsilyl nitrile; 
methyl 2-methyl-2-(trimethylgermanyl) propanoate; 
[(4,5-dihydro-2-furanyl)oxy]trimethylsilane; 
[(2-methyl-1-propenylidene)bis(oxy)]bis[trimethylsilane]; 
[(2-methyl-1-[2-methoxymethoxy)ethoxyl]-1-propenyl)oxy]trimethylsilane; 
methyl [2-methyl-l-(trimethylxilyloxy)-1-propenyl)oxy]acetate; 
[(1-(methoxymethoxy)-2-methyl-1-propenyl)-oxy]trimethylsilane; 
[(2-ethyl-1-propoxy-1-butenyl)oxy]-ethyldimethylsilane; ethyl 
2-(trimethylstannyl)propanoate; 
[(2-methyl-1-butenylidene)bis(oxy)]bis[trimethylsilane]; 
2-(trimethylsilyl)propanenitrile; ethyl(trimethylgermanyl)acetate; 
[(1-((1-dec-2-enyl)-oxy)-2-methyl-1-propenyl)oxy]-trimethylsilane; phenyl 
2-methyl-2-(tributylstannyl)propanoate; methyl 2-(triethylsilyl)acetate; 
[(2-methyl-1-cyclohexeneyl)-oxy[tributylstannane; 
[(1-methoxy-2-methyl-1-propenyl)oxy]phenyldimethylsilane. 
Macromonomers of this invention are linear block polymers that have a 
polymerizable olefinic group at the end of the polymer chain. The 
polymerizable group may be, for example, a double bond from a 
methacryloxy, an acryloxy, a styrenic, an alpha methyl styrenic, an 
allylic, a vinylic, or other olefinic groups. Acrylic macromonomers can be 
prepared: 
1) by the Group Transfer Polymerization process using functional initiators 
and a capping process to protect the functional group during 
polymerization; 
2) by anionic polymerization followed by a capping process (as described by 
Milkovich and Chiang U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,116; 
3) by free radical polymerization using functional chain transfer agents 
followed by a capping process (as described by Gillman and Senogles, 
Polymer Lett., 5, 477 (1967)), or 
4) by free radical polymerization using special cobalt catalysts (as 
described by Rizzardo, et al. J. Macromol. Sci.-Chem., A23 (7), 839-852 
(1986)). Group Transfer polymerization is the preferred method for making 
the block copolymeric macromonomers. 
The macromonomers may range in molecular weight from 1,000 to 20,000. The 
preferred range is from 5,000 to 15,000. 
Macromonomer block polymers found useful to modify other polysiloxanyl 
copolymers include but are not limited to the following [The values given 
represent the weight percent of each monomer in the polymer. A double 
slash indicates a separation between blocks, and a single slash indicates 
a random copolymer or random composition in a specific block ]; 
______________________________________ 
Block Adjacent 
Composition to Double Bond 
Molecular Weight 
______________________________________ 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 6,600 
40//60 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 10,600 
40//60 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 15,500 
40//60 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 10,600 
25//75 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 13,300 
75//25 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 6,600 
75//25 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 9,800 
83//17 
TRIS/MMA RANDOM 9,000 
83/17 
______________________________________ 
Preferred macromonomers are: 
______________________________________ 
Block Adjacent 
Composition to Double Bond 
Molecular Weight 
______________________________________ 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 10,600 
40//60 
TRIS//MMA TRIS 10,600 
25//75 
______________________________________ 
Such macromonomers are especially amenable to forming comonomer syrups for 
bulk polymerization to form polymers for oxygen-permeable contact lenses. 
Included in the composition of the macromonomers may also be some monomers 
whose function is to improve wetting or deposit resistance. Examples of 
these monomers include: methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, dimethylaminoethyl 
methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, glyceryl methacrylate. 
Known conventional gas permeable lens formulations include slightly 
crosslinked copolymers of MMA and TRIS. The ratio of the two monomers is 
adjusted to optimize a balance of properties. As the level of TRIS monomer 
is increased, the permeability of the contact lens increases, but the 
hardness and flex resistance decreases. The amount of TRIS which can be 
used is limited by the minimum hardness that is acceptable for 
manufacturability. Typically, a minimum Shore D hardness of 70 is needed 
for good manufacturing (machineability) of lenses. This, in copolymers of 
the prior art, normally results in a maximum oxygen permeability (DK) of 
about 40. 
Included in the composition of the macromonomers, may also be minor amounts 
(e.g. up to 10% by weight) of (meth)acrylate monomers whose function is to 
improve wetting or deposit resistance, in lens polymers for example. 
Examples of such monomers include: methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, 
dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, glyceryl 
methacrylate. Other polymers containing such monomers may be mixed with 
the macromonomers of this invention or in resulting lens compositions as 
well. 
The polymerizable double bond can be in an organo group that is attached to 
an end of the macromonomer in the form of a methacryloxy, an acryloxy, a 
styrenic, an alpha methyl styrenic, an allylic, a vinylic, or other 
olefinic groups. It can be attached to the macromonomer by reacting a 
functional group on the macromonomer with compounds that contain a 
polymerizable double bond and react with said functional group. Such 
compounds include, for example, one that has a different functional group 
that can react with the first functional group and also contains a 
polymerizable double bond. Examples of such first functional groups that 
can be present on one end of the macromonomer include hydroxy, carboxylic 
acid, epoxy and aziridine. The functional group may initially be present 
in blocked form to protect it during polymerization of the macromonomer, 
which requires the removal of the blocking group before attachment of the 
polymerizable double bond group. The functional group may be incorporated 
in the macromonomer through use either of a functional initiator or of a 
functional terminal monomer. Examples of the second functional groups in 
the double-bond-containing compound include epoxy, hydroxy, acid, 
aziridine, isocyanate, acid chloride, anhydride, and ester. 
Initiators having blocked hydroxyl groups which can be used include 
1-(2-trimethylsiloxyethoxy)-1-trimethylsiloxy-2-methyl propene and 
1-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethoxy]-1-trimethylsiloxy-2methylpropene. Blocked 
hydroxyl monomers which can be used include 2-(trimethylsiloxy)ethyl 
methacrylate, 2-(trimethylsiloxy)propyl methacrylate, and 
3,3-dimethoxypropyl acrylate. When the polymerization is completed, the 
blocking group is removed by hydrolysis to give a hydroxy functional 
polymer. Examples of hydroxy functional monomers which can be blocked 
include: 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 
hydroxypropyl acrylate, and hydroxypropyl acrylate. 
Upon unblocking, the hydroxy group is then reacted with compounds that can 
attach a polymerizable double bond group to the polymer. Examples of these 
include: 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate, methacryloyl chloride, acryloyl 
chloride, alpha-methylstyrene isocyanate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 
anhydrides of acrylic and methacrylic acid, maleic anhydride, and esters 
of acrylic and methacrylic acids in transesterification reactions. 
Blocked acid initiators which can be used include 
1,1-bis(trimethylsiloxy)-2-methyl propene and 
1,1-bis(trimethylsiloxy)propene. Blocked acid monomers which can be used 
include trimethylsiloxy methacrylate and 1-butoxyethyl methacrylate. When 
the polymerization is completed, the blocking group is removed to give an 
acid functional polymer. Acid monomers which can be used include acrylic 
acid, itaconic acid, and methacrylic acid. 
The acid group is then reacted with compounds that can attach a 
polymerizable double bond group to the polymer. Examples of these include: 
glycidyl acrylate and methacrylate, aziridinyl acrylate and methacrylate, 
the hydroxy esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid. 
The block copolymers and macromonomers of this invention have utility in 
polymer formulations, especially those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,808,178 and 
4,120,570, for use in such diverse applications as release coatings, 
contact lenses, ocular membranes, intraocular implants, sizing agents, 
electronics adhesives, gas and liquid separation membranes, prostheses, 
and etching resists. 
They are especially useful for incorporation into copolymers of the types 
disclosed in aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,308,178 and 4,120,570 to N. 
E. Gaylord. 
Test Methods 
Oxygen Permeability 
Oxygen permeabilities are determined using standard techniques, such as in 
ASTM-D-1434, as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,178 at Column 
4, lines 36-44. 
The values given are the diffusion constants: 
##EQU1## 
Hardness 
A Shore D hardness tester was used in the conventional manner (e.g. ASTM 
E448-82) to determine hardness of buttons made either from a button mold 
or cut from a tube. A suitable tester is a Model D Hardness Tester from 
Shore Instrument and Manufacturing Co. 
Swelling 
A faced button was weighed and soaked in a container in heptane or ethyl 
alcohol for 18 hours. The container was placed in a water bath at room 
temperature. The button was taken out and wiped dry with a paper towel. 
The different in weight of the button before and after soaking is recorded 
and the percentage increase in weight is calculated based on the original 
weight of the button. 
Comparative Examples 
Not of the Invention 
This describes the preparation of a conventional contact lens made with the 
random copolymerization of monomers. 
Formulation 
The following materials were mixed together: 51.8 gm of methyl 
methacrylate, MMA, 36.0 gm of 3-tris(trimethylsiloxy)silanepropyl 
methacrylate, TRIS, 7.0 gm of N-vinyl pyrolidone, NVP, 5.0 gm of 
tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, TEGMA, and 0.2 gm of "Vazo-52", a 
commercial free-radical initiator. The solution was poured in button 
molds, tubes, or in a caste base curve radius type mold. 
Methods of Polymerization 
Method 1: Thermal polymerization. The mixture was heated in the mold at 
30.degree. C. for 44 hours, then 4 hours at 45.degree. C., finally 24 
hours at 110.degree. C. 
Lens Manufacturing 
A lathe cut lens from the samples using standard production procedures. 
Results 
The above formulation was used to make a lens that had a Shore D hardness 
of 75 and a DK of 17.0. 
A series of six more polymers, and lenses thereof, was made and tested in 
substantially the same manner while varying the ratio of the TRIS and MMA 
monomers with the same amounts of NVP and TEGMA. The results are as 
follows: 
______________________________________ 
Formulation 
Comparison (Wt. in gms) Properties 
Run TRIS MMA DK Hardness 
______________________________________ 
1 36 51.8 17 75 
2 48 39.8 35 70 
3 53 34.8 34.5 64 
4 55 32.8 36.9 60.5 
5 60 27.8 47.3 58 
6 66 21.8 70.0 54.0 
7 70 17.8 Too soft 
______________________________________ 
The above table shows results that are typically obtained with conventional 
random copolymerization of a hard monomer MMA and a permeable monomer 
TRIS. Lenses made with the formulations of Comparisons 4, 5, 6 and 7 are 
considered to be of inferior commercial quality. They were too soft to 
properly cut and lathe, were easily scratched, and were solvent sensitive, 
i.e., they had over 15% solvent swelling. 
The results from Comparisons 1 to 7 are exemplary for lenses made from an 
random copolymerization of hard monomer such as MMA and a permeable 
monomer such as TRIS. These results show that as the level of permeable 
monomer is increased, the oxygen permeability is increased, but the 
hardness of the lens decreases. 
In the above formulations the N-vinyl pyrrolidone was added to improve the 
wetting characteristics of the finished lens. Other wetting monomers that 
could have been used include methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, hydroxyethyl 
methacrylate, and glyceryl methacrylate. It is thought that their use at 
less than 10% does not affect either the permeability or hardness of the 
lenses. 
The tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate was added to crosslink the lens and 
improve the swell resistance of the finished lens. Other crosslinking 
monomers that could have been used include ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, 
diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate 
TMPTMA. It is thought that their use at less than 8% does not affect 
permeability. 
Others monomers, such as hexafluorobutyl methacrylate, styrene, 
t-butylstyrene, etc. can be used to improve some properties, such as 
deposit resistance. Their use at less than 10% of the total composition 
does not significantly affect either permeability or hardness. 
Preparation Procedure for Lenses Made Using Macromonomers of the Invention 
I. Mixing Procedure 
All liquid ingredients were weighed and mixed in screw-on-cap bottle, 
shaken and stirred for a while. The solid macromonomer powder is weighed 
and added to the liquid monomer ingredients in small portions. In order to 
disperse the power in the bulk of the mixture, after each addition the 
mixture was stirred using a magnetic stirrer, the bottle then capped and 
sealed properly, tumbled on a roller mill until the solution was clear and 
homogeneous (from several hours to several days). The initiator and any 
color were added and tumbled for half an hour, then poured in molds or 
tubes. 
Polymerization Procedure 
Thermal Polymerization 
Solutions were poured in, nitrogen flushed aluminum tubes, capped and put 
in a water bath for 44 hours at 30.degree. C. Then heated in an oven for 4 
hours at 45.degree. C., finally the temperature was raised to 110.degree. 
C. for 24 hours. Sometimes an extra 24 hours at 130.degree. C. was used. 
The tubes were cooled to room temperature and the rods were punched out. 
The rods were ground to the half inch diameter and cut to buttoms. These 
buttoms were then cut and lathed into lenses. 
The Ultraviolet Method 
After the solution is prepared, it was poured in UV-transparent button 
molds and placed in a UV box. Nitrogen and vacuum was applied 
alternatively. Irradiation was applied for 45 minutes under nitrogen 
atmosphere. The molds were then removed and heated for two hours at 
90.degree. C., then the temperature was raised to 110.degree. C. for 20 
hours. Buttons were punched out of the molds and faced. 
Lens Manufacturing 
A lathe was used to cut lenses using standard production procedures. 
EXAMPLES 
In the examples that follow, the compositions are expressed in terms of the 
weight ratios of the ingredients based on total weight of the composition. 
EXAMPLE 1 
TRIS//MMA 40//60 MACROMONOMER 
This describes the preparation of a macromonomer composed of a block of 
3-methacryloxypropyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane (TRIS) and a block of 
methyl methacrylate (MMA). The double bond is in a group attached to the 
TRIS block. TRIS can also be called 
tris(trimethylsiloxy)-gamma-methacryloxypropyl silane. 
A 2 liter flask is equipped with a mechanical stirrer, thermometer, N.sub.2 
inlet, drying tube outlet and addition funnels. 
3-Methacryloxypropyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane, 120.82 gm; THF, 27.26 gm; 
p-xylene, 2.57 gm; tetrabutylammonium m-chlorobenzoate, 300 microliters of 
a 1.0 M solution; and bis(dimethylamino)methylsilane, 500 microliters were 
charged to the pot. Initiator 
1-(2-trimethylsiloxy)ethoxy-1-trimethylsiloxy-2-methylpropene, 13.79 gm 
was injected and the TRIS block was polymerized. Feed I [methyl 
methacrylate, 183.6 gm; THF, 157.7 gm; bis(dimethylamino)methylsilane 500 
microliters]was started and added over 20 minutes. At 90 minutes the 
reaction was quenched with methanol, 7.80 gm; H.sub.2 O, 4.59 gm; 
dichloroacetic acid, 20 microliters. It was refluxed for 3 hours. Then 215 
gm of solvent was distilled off while 350 gm of toluene was added. The 
flask was distilled until the vapor temperature equaled approximately 
108.degree. C. a-Methylstyrene isocyanate (TMI from Am. Cyanamid), 12.1 gm 
and dibutyltin dilaurate, 150 microliters were added and refluxed for 3 
hours. This puts a reactive double bond at the end of each polymer chain. 
Methanol, 0.62 gm, was added and refluxed 30 minutes. Butanol, 4.68 gm 
was added and refluxed 1 hour. The polymer solution was then poured into 
methanol. The solid polymer precipitated out and was dried. 
This made a macromonomer of TRIS//MMA 40//60 with the polymerizable double 
bond next to the TRIS block. The polymer has a number average molecular 
weight, Mn=10,600. 
EXAMPLE 2 
This example uses the macromonomer that was prepared in Example 1. 
______________________________________ 
Monomer Formulation* 
Properties 
Item TRIS MMA MACRO DK Hardness 
______________________________________ 
A 41.8 ** 35 -- -- 
B 42 12.8 35 68 82 
______________________________________ 
**Item A included 13.0% hexafluorobutyl methacrylate instead of MMA. 
*Each item included 5% MMA, 5% TEGMA polymerized using 0.2% Vazo52, a 
commercial freeradical initiator. 
Example 2B clearly shows the advantages of macromonomers of the invention 
used in contact lens formulations. The lenses made were hard, easy to cut 
and lathe, resistant to scratches, and had less than 15% solvent swell. 
The combination of hardness and oxygen permeability of lenses made with 
the polymer of Example 2B is significantly greater than obtained with 
random copolymers as listed in Comparisons 1-7. 
The use of the macromonomers did not adversely affect the optical clarity 
of the lenses because of its compatibility with the other comonomers.