A method of synthesizing a compound having the formula: comprising the step of: reacting a N-vinylformamide salt having the formula with a compound having the formula XRR.sup.1; wherein X is Br, Cl or I, M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, R.sup.1 is a C0-C25 alkylene group, a C0-C25 fluroalkylene group or a C0-C25 perfluoro alkylene group, R.sup.2 is H, provided R.sup.1 is not absent, an alkyl group, a fluroalkyl group, a perfluoroalkyl group, an aryl group, a hydroxy group, a polyether group, a heterocyclic group of 5 or 6 atoms wherein at least one of the atoms is not a carbon and is N, O, or S, --OR.sup.3, wherein, R.sup.3 is an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, a perfluoroalkyl group, or an aryl group, --C(O)R.sup.4, --C(O)OR.sup.4, --OC(O)R.sup.4, wherein R.sup.4 is an H, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, a perfluoroalkyl group, or an aryl group, a phthalimide group or NR.sup.5R.sup.5 wherein R.sup.5 and R.sup.5 are independently H, --C(O)R.sup.4, an alkyl, a fluoroalkyl group, a perfluoroalkyl group or an aryl group.