Thermoresponsive PPEGMEA‐g‐PPEGEEMA well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymer synthesized by successive SET‐LRP and ATRP

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers containing poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] (PPEGMEA) backbone and poly[poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate] (PPEGEEMA) side chains were synthesized by the combination of single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was first prepared by SET‐LRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate macromonomer using CuBr/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained comb copolymer was treated with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to give PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator. Finally, PPEGMEA‐g‐PPEGEEMA graft copolymers were synthesized by ATRP of poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate macromonomer using PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator via the grafting‐from route. The molecular weights of both the backbone and the side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.20). This kind of double hydrophilic copolymer was found to be stimuli‐responsive to both temperature and ion (0.3 M Cl^? and SO). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 647–655, 2010     

Depolymerization kinetics of di(4‐tert‐butyl cyclohexyl) itaconate and Mark‐Houwink‐Kuhn‐Sakurada parameters of di(4‐tert‐butyl cyclohexyl) itaconate and di‐n‐butyl itaconate

Multipulse pulsed laser polymerization coupled with size exclusion chromatography (MP‐PLP‐SEC) has been employed to study the depropagation kinetics of the sterically demanding 1,1‐disubstituted monomer di(4‐tert‐butylcyclohexyl) itaconate (DBCHI). The effective rate coefficient of propagation, k, was determined for a solution of monomer in anisole at concentrations, c, 0.72 and 0.88 mol L^?1 in the temperature range 0 ≤ T ≤ 70 °C. The resulting Arrhenius plot (i.e., ln k vs. 1/RT) displayed a subtle curvature in the higher temperature regime and was analyzed in the linear part to yield the activation parameters of the forward reaction. In the temperature region where no depropagation was observed (0 ≤ T ≤ 50 °C), the following Arrhenius parameters for k_p were obtained (DBCHI, E_p = 35.5 ± 1.2 kJ mol^?1, ln A_p = 14.8 ± 0.5 L mol^?1 s^?1). In addition, the k data was analyzed in the depropagatation regime for DBCHI, resulting in estimates for the associated entropy (?ΔS = 150 J mol^?1 K^?1) of polymerization. With decreasing monomer concentration and increasing temperature, it is increasingly more difficult to obtain well structured molecular weight distributions. The Mark Houwink Kuhn Sakurada (MHKS) parameters for di‐n‐butyl itaconate (DBI) and DBCHI were determined using a triple detection GPC system incorporating online viscometry and multi‐angle laser light scattering in THF at 40 °C. The MHKS for poly‐DBI and poly‐DBCHI in the molecular weight range 35–256 kDa and 36.5–250 kDa, respectively, were determined to be K_DBI = 24.9 (10³ mL g^?1), α_DBI = 0.58, K_DBCHI = 12.8 (10³ mL g^?1), and α_DBCHI = 0.63. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1931–1943, 2007     

Synthesis and self‐assembly of amphiphilic brush‐dendritic‐linear poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]‐b‐ polyamidoamine‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) copolymers

A series of novel amphiphilic brush‐dendritic‐linear poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate]‐b‐polyamidoamine‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) copolymers (PPEGMEMA‐b‐D_m‐b‐PCL) (m = 1, 2, and 3: the generation number of dendron) were synthesized by the combination techniques of click chemistry, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and ring‐opening polymerization (ROP). The brush‐dendritic copolymers bearing hydrophilic brush PPEGMEMA and hydrophobic dendron polyamidoamine protected by the tert‐butoxycarbonyl (Boc) groups [D_m‐(Boc) (m = 1, 2, and 3)] were for the first time prepared by ATRP of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate monomer (PEGMEMA) initiated with the dendron initiator, which was prepared from 2′‐azidoethyl‐2‐bromoisobutyrate (AEBIB) and D_m‐(Boc) terminated with a clickable alkyne by click chemistry. Then, the brush‐dendritic copolymers with primary amine groups (PPEGMEMA‐b‐D_m) were obtained from the removal of the protected Boc groups of the brush‐dendritic copolymers in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid. The brush‐dendritic‐linear PPEGMEMA‐b‐D_m‐b‐PCL copolymers were synthesized from ROP of ε‐caprolactone monomer using PPEGMEMA‐b‐D_m as the macroinitiators and stannous octoate as catalyst in toluene at 130 °C. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that integrates hydrophilic brush polymer PPEGMEMA with hydrophobic polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendron and PCL to form amphiphilic brush‐dendritic‐linear copolymers. The amphiphilic brush‐dendritic‐linear copolymers can self‐assemble into spherical micellar structures in aqueous solution. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Chiral recognition in molecular and macromolecular pairs of (S)‐ and (R)‐1‐cyano‐2‐methylpropyl‐4′‐ {[4‐(8‐vinyloxyoctyloxy)benzoyl]oxy}biphenyl‐4‐ carboxylate enantiomers

(S)‐1‐Cyano‐2‐methylpropyl‐4′‐{[4‐(8‐vinyloxyoctyloxy)benzoyl]oxy}biphenyl‐ 4‐carboxylate [ (S)‐11 ] and (R)‐1‐cyano‐2‐methylpropyl‐4′‐{[4‐(8‐vinyloxyoctyloxy)benzoyl]oxy}biphenyl‐4‐carboxylate [( R)‐11 ] enantiomers, both greater than 99% enantiomeric excess, and their corresponding homopolymers, poly[ (S)‐11 ] and poly[ (R)‐11 ], with well‐defined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions were synthesized and characterized. The mesomorphic behaviors of (S)‐11 and poly[ (S)‐11 ] are identical to those of (R)‐11 and poly[ (R)‐11 ], respectively. Both (S)‐11 and (R)‐11 exhibit enantiotropic S_A, S, and S_X (unidentified smectic) phases. The corresponding homopolymers exhibit S_A and S phases. The homopolymers with a degree of polymerization (DP) less than 6 also show a crystalline phase, whereas those with a DP greater than 10 exhibit a second S_X phase. Phase diagrams were investigated for four different pairs of enantiomers, (S)‐11 /( R)‐11 , (S)‐11 /poly[ (R)‐11 ], and poly[ (S)‐11 ]/poly[ (R)‐11 ], with similar and dissimilar molecular weights. In all cases, the structural units derived from the enantiomeric components are miscible and, therefore, isomorphic in the S_A and S phases over the entire range of enantiomeric composition. Chiral molecular recognition was observed in the S_A and S_X phases of the monomers but not in the S_A phase of the polymers. In addition, a very unusual chiral molecular recognition effect was detected in the S phase of the monomers below their crystallization temperature and in the S phase of the polymers below their glass‐transition temperature. In the S phase of the monomers above the melting temperature and of the polymers above the glass‐transition temperature, nonideal solution behavior was observed. However, in the S_A phase the monomer–polymer and polymer–polymer mixtures behave as an ideal solution. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3631–3655, 2000     

Polymerization of methyl acrylate with triphenylbismuthonium 1,2,3,4‐tetraphenylcyclopentadienylide as a new radical initiator

Triphenylbismuthonium 1,2,3,4‐tetraphenylcyclopentadienylide in 1,4‐dioxan initiated radical polymerization of methyl acrylate to ～30% conversion without gelation because of autoacceleration. The polymer had a viscosity‐average molecular weight of 200,000. The kinetic expression was R_pα[I]^0.3[M]^1.16, that is, the system followed nonideal kinetics because of primary radical termination and degradative chain‐transfer reactions. The values of kk_t and the energy of activation were computed as 3.12 × 10^?5 Lmol^?1s^?1 and 28 kJ/mol, respectively. The ylide dissociated to form a phenyl radical, which brought about polymerization of methyl acrylate. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2060–2065, 2004     

A chiral polymer‐based turn‐on fluorescent sensor for specific recognition of hydrogen sulfate

A new kind of polymeric chemosensor containing chiral naphthaldimine moiety in the side chain was synthesized by the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of N‐{[2‐(4‐vinylbenzyloxy)‐1‐naphthyl]‐methylene}‐(S)‐2‐phenylglycinol (VNP). The resulting polymers (PVNP) showed high selectivity for hydrogen sulfate relative to other anions including F^?, Cl^?, Br^?, H₂PO, CH₃CO, and NO in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution as judged from UV?vis, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectrophotometric titrations. Compared with its monomer, the polymer has proven to be more attractive for detection of HSO in terms of sensitivity and reproducibility. Upon addition of the anion it gives remarkable spectral responses concomitant with detectable color change from colorless to pale yellow. Furthermore, the HSO‐induced CD or fluorescence signal can be totally reversed with addition of base and eventually recovered the initial state, leading to a reproducible molecular switch with two distinguished “on” and “off” states. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Improving the control of styrene polymerization at 60 °C using a dialkylated α‐hydrogenated nitroxide

A new dialkylated α‐hydrogenated linear nitroxide and the corresponding 1‐phenylethyl alkoxyamine were synthesized in two and three steps, respectively. The alkoxyamine was involved in the polymerization of styrene at 60 °C, and the in situ concentration of nitroxide was monitored by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The enhanced characteristics of these new alkylated alkoxyamine and nitroxide (k = 1.5 × 10^?4 s^?1 and k = 5.7 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 s^?1) yielded a monomer consumption one order of magnitude higher than styrene thermal polymerization. This resulted in well‐defined polystyrenes up to 70,000 g mol^?1 and the observation of a control occurring through the establishment of the radical persistent effect, that is, ln([M]₀/[M]) = t^2/3. Experimentally determined kinetic constants were involved in PREDICI modelings to investigate the influence of temperature and initial alkoxyamine concentration on the kinetics as well as on the livingness and the controlled character of the polymerization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Narrowly dispersed micrometer‐sized composite spheres based on diazonium–polystyrene

Diazonium group–substituted polystyrene (PS–N) micrometer‐sized spheres with narrow distribution were prepared from highly crosslinked polystyrene particles. Then a composite sphere was prepared with the micro‐PS–N sphere as core and submicrometer‐sized poly(styrene‐methyl methacrylate‐acrylic acid) [P(S‐MMA‐AA)] colloids or nanometer‐sized SiO₂ particles as shell via columbic interaction. The ionic linkages between the core and shell convert to covalent bonds in the thermal treatment process. As a result, the composite sphere becomes very stable toward polar solvents as well as toward ultrasonic treatment. A hollow SiO₂ micrometer‐sized sphere then was achieved by removing the core under sintering conditions (700 °C). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4284–4288, 2004     

SP–PLP–EPR Investigations into the Chain‐Length‐Dependent Termination of Methyl Methacrylate Bulk Polymerization

Termination kinetics of methyl methacrylate (MMA) bulk polymerization has been studied via the single pulsed laser polymerization–electron paramagnetic resonance method. MMA‐d₈ has been investigated to enhance the signal‐to‐noise quality of microsecond time‐resolved measurement of radical concentration. Chain‐length‐dependent termination rate coefficients of radicals of identical size, k, are reported for 5–70 °C and up to i = 100. k decreases according to the power‐law expression . At 5 °C, k_t for two MMA radicals of chain‐length unity is k = (5.8 ± 1.3) · 10⁸ L · mol⁻¹ · s⁻¹. The associated activation energy and power‐law exponent are: E_A(k) ≈ 9 ± 2 kJ · mol⁻¹ and α ≈ 0.63 ± 0.15, respectively.

     

Non‐transition metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of vinyl chloride initiated with iodoform in water at 25 °C

Non‐transition metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerization (LRP) of vinyl chloride (VC) in water at 25–35 °C is reported. This polymerization is initiated with iodoform and catalyzed by Na₂S₂O₄. In water, S₂O dissociates into SO that mediates the initiation and reactivation steps via a single electron transfer (SET) mechanism. The exchange between dormant and active propagating species also includes the degenerative chain transfer to dormant species (DT). In addition, the SO₂ released from SO during the SET process can add reversibly to poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) radicals and provide additional transient dormant ～SO radicals. This novel LRP proceeds mostly by a combination of competitive SET and DT mechanisms and, therefore, it is called SET‐DTLRP. Telechelic PVC with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 2,000–55,000, containing two active ～CH₂? CHClI chain ends and a higher syndiotacticity than the commercial PVC were obtained by SET‐DTLRP. This PVC is free of structural defects and exhibits a higher thermal stability than commercial PVC. SET‐DTLRP of VC is carried out under reaction conditions related to those used for its commercial free‐radical polymerization. Consequently, SET‐DTLRP is of technological interest both as an alternative commercial method for the production of PVC with superior properties as well as for the synthesis of new PVC‐based architectures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6267–6282, 2004     

Study on soap‐free P(MMA‐EA‐AA or MAA) latex particles with narrow size distribution

Soap‐free poly(methyl methacrylate‐ethyl acrylate‐acrylic acid or methacrylic acid) [P(MMA‐EA‐AA or MAA)] particles with narrow size distribution were synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl acrylate (EA) and acrylic acid (AA) or methacrylic acid (MAA), and the influences of the mass ratio of core/shell monomers used in the two stages of polymerization ([C/S]_w) and initiator amount on polymerization, particle size and its distribution were investigated by using different monomer addition modes. Results showed that when the batch swelling method was used, the monomer conversion was more than 96.0% and particle size distribution was narrow, and the particle size increased first and then remained almost unchanged at around 600 nm with the [C/S]_w decreased. When the drop‐wise addition method was used, the monomer conversion decreased slightly with [C/S]_w decreased, and large particles more than 750 nm in diameter can be obtained; with the initiator amount increased, the particle size decreased and the monomer conversion had a trend to increase; the particle size distribution was broader and the number of new particles was more in the AA system than in the MAA system; but the AA system was more stable than the MAA system at both low and high initiator amount. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Incubation period in the 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy‐mediated thermal autopolymerization of styrene: Kinetics and simulations

Mechanisms and simulations of the induction period and the initial polymerization stages in the nitroxide‐mediated autopolymerization of styrene are discussed. At 120–125 °C and moderate 2,2,4,4‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) concentrations (0.02–0.08 M), the main source of radicals is the hydrogen abstraction of the Mayo dimer by TEMPO [with the kinetic constant of hydrogen abstraction (k_h)]. At higher TEMPO concentrations ([N?] > 0.1 M), this reaction is still dominant, but radical generation by the direct attack against styrene by TEMPO, with kinetic constant of addition k_ad, also becomes relevant. From previous experimental data and simulations, initial estimates of k_h ≈ 1 and k_ad ≈ 6 × 10^?7 L mol^?1 s^?1 are obtained at 125 °C. From the induction period to the polymerization regime, there is an abrupt change in the dominant mechanism generating radicals because of the sudden decrease in the nitroxide radicals. Under induction‐period conditions, the simulations confirm the validity of the quasi‐steady‐state assumption (QSSA) for the Mayo dimer in this regime; however, after the induction period, the QSSA for the dimer is not valid, and this brings into question the scientific basis of the well‐known expression k_th[M]³ (where [M] is the monomer concentration and k_th is the kinetic constant of autoinitiation) for the autoinitiation rate in styrene polymerization. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6962‐6979, 2006     

Novel active ester‐bridged copolynorbornene materials containing terminal functional hydroxyl,amino, methacryloyl,or ammonium groups via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

Several random and block copolynorbornenes with side chains containing terminal hydroxyl, amino, methacryloyl or ammonium groups were derived from the functional alkyl ester‐containing norbornenes by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The main chain of ROMP‐type polynorbornene had a more important role for glass‐transition temperature in comparison with vinyl addition polymerization. There is little effect on glass‐transition temperature (about ?39 °C) of polynorbornenes with different length of alkyl side chain. The organosoluble copolynorbornenes with active crosslinkable methylacryloyl side chains derived from functional hydroxyl group were prepared to improve the thermal stability of poly(methyl methacrylate) [decomposition temperature (T_d)^10% = 325 °C in nitrogen] by forming networked AB crosslinked polymer (T = 367 °C in nitrogen). The sizes of nanometer‐scale polymeric micelles of block copolymers having hydrophobic alkyl ester and hydrophilic ammonium groups were measured in the range of 11–25 nm by scanning electron microscopy. These polymeric materials with various functional groups or amphiphilic architectures are accessible by ROMP, whose topology makes them particularly attractive for application potential such as biomedical and photoelectric materials. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4233–4247, 2005     

Side‐chain polypseudorotaxanes by threading cucurbit[7]uril onto poly‐N‐n‐butyl‐N′‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium bromide chloride: Synthesis,characterization, and properties

A novel side‐chain polypseudorotaxanes P4VBVBu/CB[7] was synthesized from poly‐N‐n‐butyl‐N′‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐4,4′‐bipyridinium bromide chloride (P4VBVBu) and cucurbit [7]uril (CB[7]) in water by simple stirring at room temperature. CB[7] beads are localized on viologen units in side chains of polypseudorotaxanes as shown by ¹H NMR, IR, XRD, and UV–vis studies, and it is considered that the hydrophobic and charge‐dipole interactions are the driving forces. TGA data show that thermal stability of the polypseudorotaxanes increases with the adding of CB[7] threaded. DLS data show that P4VBVBu and CB[7] could form polypseudorotaxanes, and the average hydrodynamic radius of the polypseudorotaxanes increases with increasing the concentration of CB[7]. The typical cyclic voltammograms indicate that the oxidation reduction characteristic of P4VBVBu is remarkably affected by the addition of CB[7] because of the formation of polypseudorotaxanes and the shielding effects of CB[7] threaded on the viologen units of polypseudorotaxanes. With the increase of the concentration of KBr or K₂SO₄, the formation of the polypseudorotaxanes was inhibited due to the shielding effects of both Br^? or SO to viologen ion and K⁺ to CB[7] by UV–vis. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2135–2142, 2010     

Kinetic study of azidopentaammine cobalt(III) complex as photoinitiator and termination agent of N‐vinylpyrrolidone radical polymerization

N‐Vinylpyrrolidone polymerization photoinitiated at 365 and 546 nm by azidopentaammine cobalt(III) {[Co(NH₃)₅N₃]²⁺} was investigated at room temperature in an argon atmosphere. By excitation into the ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT), the cobalt complex showed an efficient photoredox process leading to the formation of a cobalt(II) and an azide radical (N, Φ_photoredox = 0.24). The same process was found to occur by excitation into the ligand field band with a low but not negligible quantum yield (Φ_photoredox = 0.016). Two different domains were clearly present when the plot of the rate of polymerization as a function of the cobalt(III) complex was studied; for [Co(III)] < 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ M, the termination step mainly involved a mutual annihilation of growing radicals whereas an oxidative termination was present in the range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁴ M < [Co(III)] < 1.0 × 10⁻³ M. Within the former domain the rate of polymerization (R_p ) varied with the first power of the monomer concentration and with the square root of the absorbed light intensity while for the latter domain the R_p was proportional to the monomer concentration and absorbed light intensity. Further investigations using the viscosity‐average molecular weight data allowed us to corroborate the proposed polymerization mechanism. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3997–4005, 2000     

Acrylic acid level and adhesive performance and peel master‐curves of acrylic pressure‐sensitive adhesives

Three series of pressure‐sensitive adhesives were prepared with constant glass‐transition temperature, using emulsion polymerization. The monomers chosen were butyl acrylate, 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and acrylic acid (AA). Within each polymer series, the proportion of AA monomer was held constant for each polymer preparation but acrylic ester monomer levels were varied. Adhesion performance was assessed by measurement of loop tack, static shear resistance, and through the construction of peel master‐curves. Peel master‐curves were generated through peel tests conducted over a range of temperatures and peel rates and through application of the time–temperature superposition principle. Bulk effects dominated by polymer zero shear viscosity change as AA and EHA levels were varied were attributed to the observed effect on static shear resistance and the horizontal displacements of peel master‐curves. Static shear resistance was found to strongly correlate with log(a_C), a parameter introduced to horizontally shift peel master‐curves to form a superposed, “super master‐curve”. An interfacial interaction was proposed to account for deviations observed when loop tack was correlated with log(a_C). Surface rearrangements via hydrogen bonding with the test substrate were suggested as responsible for the interfacial interaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1237–1252, 2006     

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide in the presence of phosphonium catalysts

Anionic ring‐opening polymerization of propylene oxide in the presence of potassium alcoholate initiator was accelerated by addition of the bulky phosphonium salt tetrakis[cyclohexyl(methyl)amino]phosphonium‐tetrafluoroborate. Dipropylene glycol (DPG) was partially deprotonated (5%) and used as an initiator for the polymerization performed at 100 °C at normal pressure. The delocalization of the positive charge over five atoms promoted the formation of a separated ion pair, thus enhancing nucleophilicity and reactivity. Compared with those of polyaminophosphazenes and tetrabutylphosphonium cation, the average propagation rates increased in the order of Bu₄P⁺, K⁺, P, P, and ^tBuP₄H⁺. DP_n for the polymers was in the range of 20–64. Characterization of poly(propylene oxide)s by means of ¹H NMR, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) showed low polydispersities (M_w/M_n) without any byproducts or impurities. The M_w/M_n obtained was 1.03–1.09 (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) and 1.11–1.15 (SEC), respectively. Values calculated from titration of the hydroxyl groups showed good agreement. Determination of the total degree of unsaturation in the range of 13–60 mmol/kg indicated larger amounts with increasing polymerization rates. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 864–873, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10163     

SET–LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide in the presence of chain transfer agent

In this study, single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET–LRP) of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) in the presence of 2‐mercaptoethylamine chain transfer agent (CTA) was carried out by Cu(0) generated in situ from the disproportionation of CuBr/2,2′‐bipyridine (2,2′‐bpy) in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) at 90 °C. Analysis of polymerization kinetics in the presence of CTA showed that the premature termination of growing polymer chains leads to retardation. The apparent rate constant of polymerization (k) decreased from 4.49 × 10^?4 to 2.59 × 10^?4 min^?1 with increasing CTA concentration. The initiator efficiency (I_eff) and the chain transfer constant (C_s) were found to be 0.524 and 0.286, respectively. The molecular weights of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) [poly(NIPAM)] produced were significantly higher than the predicted values, and the polydispersities were less than 1.22. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Polymerization of carboxylic ester functionalized norbornenes catalyzed by (η3‐allyl)palladium complexes bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands

An in situ generated cationic allylpalladium complex bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, derived from the reaction of [(η³‐C₃H₅)Pd(NHC)Cl] with AgX (X = BF₄ or SbF₆), is an active catalyst for the addition polymerization of norbornene and norbornene derivatives [5‐norbornene‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester ( b ) and 5‐norbornene‐2‐carboxylic acid n‐butyl ester ( c )] with an ester group containing a large portion of endo‐isomers. The catalytic activities, polymer yields, molecular weights, and molecular weight distributions of polynorbornenes were investigated under various reaction conditions: the catalytic activity was highly dependent on the counteranion, the reaction solvent, and the reaction temperature. For b , as the portion of an endo‐isomer increased, the activity of 13 (SbF) was much higher than those of 14 and 15 , and for c (exo/endo = 95:5), the maximum turn over number (TON) was observed with 15 (SbF). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3042–3052, 2007     

Visible light induced free radical promoted cationic polymerization using thioxanthone derivatives

The free radical promoted cationic polymerization cyclohexene oxide (CHO), was achieved by visible light irradiation (λ_inc = 430–490 nm) of methylene chloride solutions containing thioxanthone‐fluorene carboxylic acid (TX‐FLCOOH) or thioxanthone‐carbazole (TX‐C) and cationic salts, such as diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (Ph₂I⁺PF) or silver hexafluorophosphate (Ag⁺PF) in the presence of hydrogen donors. A feasible initiation mechanism involves the photogeneration of ketyl radicals by hydrogen abstraction in the first step. Subsequent oxidation of ketyl radicals by the oxidizing salts yields Bronsted acids capable of initiating the polymerization of CHO. In agreement with the proposed mechanism, the polymerization was completely inhibited by 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐1‐oxy and di‐2,6‐di‐tert‐butylpyridine as radical and acid scavengers, respectively. Additionally polymerization efficiency was directly related to the reduction potential of the cationic salts, that is, Ag⁺PF (E = +0.8 V) was found to be more efficient than Ph₂I⁺PF (E = ?0.2 V). In addition to CHO, vinyl monomers such as isobutyl vinyl ether and N‐vinyl carbazole, and a bisepoxide such as 3,4‐epoxycyclohexyl‐3′,4′‐epoxycyclohexene carboxylate, were polymerized in the presence of TX‐FLCOOH or TX‐C and iodonium salt with high efficiency. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011