Hydrophilic transparent crosslinked copolymers and method for their preparation

The invention relates to hydrophilic transparent homopolymers and cross-linked copolymers, methods for their production, and the respective monomers. Hydrophilic copolymers can be prepared by copolymerization of monomers of general formula Ia wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, eventually with monomers of general formula IIa wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, and X is O-CH2-CH2-OH, O-CH2-CH(OH)-CH3, O-CH2-CH(OH)-CH2-OH, @O-CH2-CH2@2OH, @O-CH2-CH2 @3OH, O-CnH2n+1 with n = 1 to 16, NH2, NH-CH2-CH(OH)-CH3, N(C2H5)2, NH-t-C4H9, OH, ONa, OK, or ONH4. The content of monomers of formulae Ia and IIa is preferably 40 to 99.99 %, wherein at least 5 % are monomers of general formula I. The copolymers are preferably cross-linked with 0.01 to 60 % of a cross-linking agent having at least two olefinic double bonds, in the presence of radical initiators. The polymers are optimally suited for soft contact lenses and medical purposes.