The synthesis of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-b-linear poly(ethylenimine) (PEtOx-b-LPEI) copolymers by selective basic hydrolysis of PEtOx-b-poly(2-H-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx-b-PHOx) is described. For this purpose, an easy method for the preparation of the 2-H-2-oxazoline (HOx) monomer was developed. Based on the microwave-assisted polymerization kinetics for this monomer, PEtOx-b-PHOx copolymers were prepared. Subsequently, the block copolymers were selectively hydrolyzed to PEtOx-b-LPEI under basic conditions. The success of the polymerizations and subsequent post-polymerization reactions was demonstrated by 1H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF-MS investigations of the obtained polymers. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012