Four batches of sucrose acrylate monomers were prepared. For each batch, 10 g of sucrose, 1.9 g of TAB (99%), and a small amount of p-methoxyphenol, which was used as a polymerization inhibitor, were dissolved in 20 ml phosphate buffered aqueous solution (pH 7.2, 0.05 M) in a 200 ml Erlenmeyer flask equipped with magnetic stirrer. The TAB was used as a phase transfer catalyst. Glycidyl acrylate (GA) (Lancaster Synthesis, Inc.; Windham, N.H.) was added to each batch to make sucrose:GA ratios of 1:4, 1:1.5, 1:1:5, and 1:8. The reaction was performed at room temperature with continuous stirring and the flasks were covered with aluminum foil to avoid the light.
