Abstract
The chemical modification of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was performed through oxidation followed by nucleophilic addition. PVA was oxidized by KMnO 4 to form vinyl ketone units along the polymer backbone. The chemical modification of PVA was then conducted through the reaction of the carbonyl group of the vinyl ketone unit with 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) as a nucleophile. Through this approach, the phosphorous DOPO group was attached onto the carbon atom of the polymer main chain rather than onto the pendent hydroxyl groups of PVA. The formed DOPO-containing PVA showed improved thermal stability, organosolubility, and flame retardance. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.