Successive SET‐LRP and ATRP synthesis of ferrocene‐based PPEGMEA‐g‐PAEFC well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer

A series of ferrocene‐based well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymers, consisting of hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] (PPEGMEA) backbone and hydrophobic poly(2‐acryloyloxyethyl ferrocenecarboxylate) (PAEFC) side chains were synthesized by successive single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was prepared by SET‐LRP of PEGMEA macromonomer, and it was then treated with lithium di‐isopropylamide and 2‐bromopropionyl bromide at ?78 °C to give PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator. The targeted well‐defined graft copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.32) were synthesized via ATRP of AEFC initiated by PPEGMEA‐Br macroinitiator, and the molecular weights of the backbone and side chains were both controllable. The electro‐chemical behaviors of graft copolymers were studied by cyclic voltammetry, and it was found that graft copolymers were more difficult to be oxidized, and the reversibility of electrode process became less with raising the content of PAEFC segment. The effects of the preparation method, the length of hydrophobic PAEFC segment, and the initial water content on self‐assembly behavior of PPEGMEA‐g‐PAEFC graft copolymers in aqueous media were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The morphologies of micelles could transform from cylinders to spheres or rods with changing the preparation condition and the length of side chains. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

PNIPAM‐b‐(PEA‐g‐PDMAEA) double‐hydrophilic graft copolymer: Synthesis and its application for preparation of gold nanoparticles in aqueous media

A series of well‐defined double‐hydrophilic graft copolymers, consisting of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(ethyl acrylate) (PNIPAM‐b‐PEA) backbone and poly(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate) (PDMAEA) side chains, were synthesized by the combination of single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). PNIPAM‐b‐PEA backbone was first prepared by sequential SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide and 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate at 25 °C using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system followed by the transformation into the macroinitiator by treating the pendant hydroxyls with 2‐chloropropionyl chloride. The final graft copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions were synthesized by ATRP of 2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate initiated by the macroinitiator at 40 °C using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system via the grafting‐from strategy. These copolymers were employed to prepare stable colloidal gold nanoparticles with controlled size in aqueous solution without any external reducing agent. The morphology and size of the nanoparticles were affected by the length of PDMAEA side chains, pH value, and the feed ratio of the graft copolymer to HAuCl₄. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1811–1824, 2009     

Synthesis of well‐defined PNIPAM‐b‐(PEA‐g‐P2VP) double hydrophilic graft copolymer via sequential SET‐LRP and ATRP and its “schizophrenic” Micellization behavior in aqueous media

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers, consisting of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(ethyl acrylate) backbone and poly(2‐vinylpyridine) side chains, were synthesized by successive single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was prepared by sequential SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide and 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate at 25 °C using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as the catalytic system. The obtained diblock copolymer was transformed into the macroinitiator by reacting with 2‐chloropropionyl chloride. Next, grafting‐from strategy was used for the synthesis of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐[poly(ethyl acrylate)‐g‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine)] double hydrophilic graft copolymer. ATRP of 2‐vinylpyridine was initiated by the macroinitiator at 25 °C using CuCl/hexamethyldiethylenetriamine as the catalytic system. The synthesis of both the backbone and the side chains are controllable. Thermo‐ and pH‐responsive schizophrenic micellization behaviors were investigated by ¹H NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Unimolecular micelles with PNIPAM‐core formed in acidic environment (pH = 2) with elevated temperature (T ≥ 32 °C), whereas the aggregates turned into spheres with PEA‐g‐P2VP‐core accompanied with the lifting of pH values (pH ≥ 5.3) at room temperature. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 15–23, 2010     

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     

Synthesis of well‐defined pH‐responsive PPEGMEA‐g‐P2VP double hydrophilic graft copolymer via sequential 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(2‐vinylpyridine) (P2VP) side chains were synthesized by successive 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 (PEGMEA) macromonomer using CuBr/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained homopolymer then reacted with lithium diisopropylamide and 2‐chloropropionyl chloride at ?78 °C to afford PPEGMEA‐Cl macroinitiator. poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate)‐g‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) double hydrophilic graft copolymers were finally synthesized by. ATRP of 2‐vinylpyridine initiated by PPEGMEA‐Cl macroinitiator at 25 °C using CuCl/hexamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalytic system via the grafting‐ from strategy. The molecular weights of both the backbone and the side chains were controllable and the molecular weight distributions kept relatively narrow (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.40). pH‐Responsive micellization behavior was investigated by ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy and this kind of double hydrophilic graft copolymer aggregated to form micelles with P2VP‐core while pH of the aqueous solution was above 5.0. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

SET‐LRP synthesis of PMHDO‐g‐PNIPAM well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer

A well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer, consisting of hydrophobic polyallene‐based backbone and hydrophilic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) side chains, was prepared by the combination of living coordination polymerization, single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP), and the grafting‐from strategy. First, the double‐bond‐containing backbone was prepared by [(η³‐allyl)NiOCOCF₃]₂‐initiated living coordination polymerization of 6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadiene‐4‐ol (MHDO). Next, the pendant hydroxyls in every repeating unit of poly(6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadiene‐4‐ol) (PMHDO) homopolymer were treated with 2‐chloropropionyl chloride to give PMHDO‐Cl macroinitiator. Finally, PNIPAM side chains were grown from PMHDO backbone via SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide initiated by PMHDO‐Cl macroinitiator in N,N‐dimethylformamide/2‐propanol using copper(I) chloride/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system to afford PMHDO‐g‐PNIPAM graft copolymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.19). The critical micelle concentration (cmc) in water was determined by fluorescence probe technique and the effects of pH and salinity on the cmc of PMHDO‐g‐PNIPAM were also investigated. The micellar morphology was found to be spheres using transmission electron microscopy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

AB2‐type amphiphilic block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) via single‐electron transfer living radical polymerization: Synthesis and characterization

Novel AB₂‐type amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide), PEG‐b‐(PNIPAM)₂, were successfully synthesized through single‐electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP). A difunctional macroinitiator was prepared by esterification of 2,2‐dichloroacetyl chloride with poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (PEG). The copolymers were obtained via the SET‐LRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) with CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine (Me₆TREN) as catalytic system and DMF/H₂O (v/v = 3:1) mixture as solvent. The resulting copolymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR. These block copolymers show controllable molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (PDI < 1.15). Their phase transition temperatures and the corresponding enthalpy changes in aqueous solution were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. As a result, the phase transition temperature of PEG₄₄‐b‐(PNIPAM₅₅)₂ is similar to that in the case of PEG₄₄‐b‐PNIPAM₁₁₀; however, the corresponding enthalpy change is much lower, indicating the significant influence of the macromolecular architecture on the phase transition. This is the first study into the effect of macromolecular architecture on the phase transition using AB₂‐type amphiphilic block copolymer composed of PEG and PNIPAM. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4420–4427, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of PNIPAM‐b‐(PEA‐g‐PDEA) double hydrophilic graft copolymer

A series of well‐defined double hydrophilic graft copolymers, consisting of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐poly(ethyl acrylate) (PNIPAM‐b‐PEA) backbone and poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEA) side chains, were synthesized by successive atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The backbone was firstly prepared by sequential ATRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide and 2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate at 25 °C using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system. The obtained diblock copolymer was transformed into macroinitiator by reacting with 2‐chloropropionyl chloride. Next, grafting‐from strategy was employed for the synthesis of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐b‐[poly(ethyl acrylate)‐g‐poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)] (PNIPAM‐b‐(PEA‐g‐PDEA)) double hydrophilic graft copolymer. ATRP of 2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate was initiated by the macroinitiator at 40 °C using CuCl/hexamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalytic system. The molecular weight distributions of double hydrophilic graft copolymers kept narrow. Thermo‐ and pH‐responsive micellization behaviors were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Unimolecular micelles with PNIPAM‐core formed in acidic environment (pH = 2) with elevated temperature (≥32 °C); whereas, the aggregates turned into vesicles in basic surroundings (pH ≥ 7.2) at room temperature. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5638–5651, 2008     

A novel fluorine‐containing graft copolymer bearing perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether‐based backbone and poly(methyl methacrylate) side chains

A series of novel graft copolymers consisting of perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether‐based backbone and poly(methyl methacrylate) side chains were synthesized by the combination of thermal [2π + 2π] step‐growth cycloaddition polymerization of aryl bistrifluorovinyl ether monomer and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate. A new aryl bistrifluorovinyl ether monomer, 2‐methyl‐1,4‐bistrifluorovinyloxybenzene, was first synthesized in two steps from commercially available reagents, and this monomer was homopolymerized in diphenyl ether to provide the corresponding perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether‐based homopolymer with methoxyl end groups. The fluoropolymer was then converted to ATRP macroinitiator by the monobromination of the pendant methyls with N‐bromosuccinimide and benzoyl peroxide. The grafting‐from strategy was finally used to obtain the novel poly(2‐methyl‐1,4‐bistrifluorovinyloxybenzene)‐g‐poly(methyl methacrylate) graft copolymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.46) via ATRP of methyl methacrylate at 50 °C in anisole initiated by the Br‐containing macroinitiator using CuBr/dHbpy as catalytic system. These fluorine‐containing graft copolymers can dissolve in most organic solvents. This is the first example of the graft copolymer possessing perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether‐based backbone. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis of PMHDO‐g‐PDEAEA well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer via successive living coordination polymerization and SET‐LRP

A series of well‐defined amphiphilic graft copolymer containing hydrophobic polyallene‐based backbone and hydrophilic poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl acrylate) (PDEAEA) side chains was synthesized by sequential living coordination polymerization of 6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadiene‐4‐ol (MHDO) and single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) of 2‐(diethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DEAEA). Ni‐catalyzed living coordination polymerization of MHDO was first performed in toluene to give a well‐defined double‐bond‐containing poly(6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadiene‐4‐ol) (PMHDO) homopolymer with a low polydispersity (M_w/M_n = 1.10). Next, 2‐chloropropionyl chloride was used for the esterification of pendant hydroxyls in every repeating unit of the homopolymer so that the homopolymer was converted to PMHDO‐Cl macroinitiator. Finally, SET‐LRP of DEAEA was initiated by the macroinitiator in tetrahydrofuran/H₂O using CuCl/tris(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine as catalytic system to afford well‐defined PMHDO‐g‐PDEAEA graft copolymers (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.22) through the grafting‐from strategy. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) was determined by ?uorescence spectroscopy with N‐phenyl‐1‐naphthylamine as probe and the micellar morphology was visualized by transmission electron microscopy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis of fluorescent,dansyl end‐functionalized PMMA and poly(methyl methacrylate‐b‐phenanthren‐1‐yl‐methacrylate) diblock copolymers,at ambient temperature

The polymerization of MMA, at ambient temperature, mediated by dansyl chloride is investigated using controlled radical polymerization methods. The solution ATRP results in reasonably controlled polymerization with PDI < 1.3. The SET‐LRP polymerization is less controlled while SET‐RAFT polymerization is controlled producing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with the PDI < 1.3. In all the cases, the polymerization rate followed first order kinetics with respect to monomer conversion and the molecular weight of the polymer increased linearly with conversion. The R group in the CTAs do not appear to play a key role in controlling the propagation rate. SET‐RAFT method appears to be a simpler tool to produce methacrylate polymers, under ambient conditions, in comparison with ATRP and SET‐LRP. Fluorescent diblock copolymers, P(MMA‐b‐PhMA), were synthesized. These were highly fluorescent with two distinguishable emission signatures from the dansyl group and the phenanthren‐1‐yl methacrylate block. The fluorescence emission spectra reveal interesting features such as large red shift when compared to the small molecule. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of double hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) by single‐electron transfer–living radical polymerization

In this study, the polymerization of (2‐hydroxyethyl) acrylate (HEA), in polar media, using Cu(0)‐mediated radical polymerization also called single‐electron transfer–living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) is reported. The kinetics aspects of both the homopolymerization and the copolymerization from a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macroinitiator were analyzed by ¹H NMR. The effects of both the ligand and the solvent were studied. The polymerization was shown to reach very high monomer conversions and to proceed in a well‐controlled fashion in the presence of tris[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine Me6‐TREN and N, N,N′, N″, N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). SET‐LRP of HEA was also led in water, and it was shown to be faster than in DMSO. In pure water, Me₆‐TREN allowed a better control over the molar masses and polydispersity indices than PMDETA and TREN. Double hydrophilic PEO‐b‐PHEA block copolymers, exhibiting various PHEA block lengths up to 100 HEA units, were synthesized, in the same manner, from a bromide‐terminated PEO macroinitiator. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

A versatile single‐electron‐transfer mediated living radical polymerization route to galactoglucomannan graft‐copolymers with tunable hydrophilicity

Cu(0) mediated living radical polymerization was successfully applied to synthesize graft‐copolymers from the hemicellulose acetylated galactoglucomannan. Functionalizing the polysaccharide backbone with α‐bromo isobutyric acid gave rise to a macroinitiator for single‐electron‐transfer mediated living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP). This macroinitiator with a degree of substitution of 0.15 or 0.20 was used in the graft‐SET‐LRP of methyl methacrylate in dimethyl sulfoxide as well as N‐isopropyl acrylamide and acrylamide in water. Kinetic analyses confirm conversions of up to 73% and a controlled behavior of the SET‐LRP process providing high molecular weight hemicellulose‐based hybrid copolymers with a brush‐like architecture. Derived graft‐copolymers varied significantly in solubility properties, ranging from hydrophobic via temperature responsive water‐solubility to water‐soluble. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

PEG‐b‐PtBA‐b‐PHEMA well‐defined amphiphilic triblock copolymer: Synthesis,self‐assembly,and application in drug delivery

A series of well‐defined amphiphilic triblock copolymers, poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)‐b‐poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PEG‐b‐PtBA‐b‐PHEMA), were synthesized via successive atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). ATRP of tBA was first initiated by PEG‐Br macroinitiator using CuBr/N,N,N′,N″,N′″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as catalytic system to give PEG‐b‐PtBA diblock copolymer. This copolymer was then used as macroinitiator to initiate ATRP of HEMA, which afforded the target triblock copolymer, PEG‐b‐PtBA‐b‐PHEMA. The critical micelle concentrations of obtained amphiphilic triblock copolymers were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy using N‐phenyl‐1‐naphthylamine as probe. The morphology and size of formed aggregates were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, respectively. Finally, an acid‐sensitive PEG‐b‐PtBA‐b‐P(HEMA‐CAD) prodrug via cis‐aconityl linkage between doxorubicin and hydroxyls of triblock copolymers with a high drug loading content up to 38%, was prepared to preliminarily explore the application of triblock copolymer in drug delivery. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic heterograft copolymers with PAA and PS side chains via “Grafting from” approach

The amphiphilic heterograft copolymers poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐2‐(2‐bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate)‐graft‐(poly(acrylic acid)/polystyrene) (P(MMA‐co‐BIEM)‐g‐(PAA/PS)) were synthesized successfully by the combination of single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP), single electron transfer‐nitroxide radical coupling (SET‐NRC), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP) via the “grafting from” approach. First, the linear polymer backbones poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐2‐(2‐bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate) (P(MMA‐co‐BIEM)) were prepared by ATRP of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and subsequent esterification of the hydroxyl groups of the HEMA units with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide. Then the graft copolymers poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐2‐(2‐bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate)‐graft‐poly(t‐butyl acrylate) (P(MMA‐co‐BIEM)‐g‐PtBA) were prepared by SET‐LRP of t‐butyl acrylate (tBA) at room temperature in the presence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yloxyl (TEMPO), where the capping efficiency of TEMPO was so high that nearly every TEMPO trapped one polymer radicals formed by SET. Finally, the formed alkoxyamines via SET‐NRC in the main chain were used to initiate NMP of styrene and following selectively cleavage of t‐butyl esters of the PtBA side chains afforded the amphiphilic heterograft copolymers poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐2‐(2‐bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl methacrylate)‐graft‐(poly(t‐butyl acrylate)/polystyrene) (P(MMA‐co–BIEM)‐g‐(PtBA/PS)). The self‐assembly behaviors of the amphiphilic heterograft copolymers P(MMA‐co–BIEM)‐g‐(PAA/PS) in aqueous solution were investigated by AFM and DLS, and the results demonstrated that the morphologies of the formed micelles were dependent on the grafting density. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Macroinitiator halide effects in galactoglucomannan‐mediated single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization

Chloro (Cl)‐ and bromo (Br)‐functionalized macroinitiators were successfully prepared from the softwood hemicellulose O‐acetylated galactoglucomannan (AcGGM) and then explored and evaluated with respect to their ability and efficiency of initiating single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP). Both halogenated species effectively initiate SET‐LRP of an acrylate and a methacrylate monomer, respectively, yielding brushlike AcGGM graft copolymers, where the molecular weights are accurately controlled via the monomer:macroinitiator ratio and polymerization time over a broad range: from oligomeric to ultrahigh. The nature of the halogen does not influence the kinetics of polymerization strongly, however, for acrylate graft polymerization, AcGGM‐Cl gives a somewhat higher rate constant of propagation, while methacrylate grafting proceeds slightly faster when the initiating species is AcGGM‐Br. For both monomers, the macroinitiator efficiency is superior in the case of AcGGM‐Br. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Thermal and pH‐sensitive gold nanoparticles from H‐shaped block copolymers of (PNIPAM/PDMAEMA)‐b‐PEG‐b‐(PNIPAM/PDMAEMA)

Well‐defined H‐shaped pentablock copolymers composed of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly(N,N‐dimethylaminoethylacrylamide) (PDMAEMA), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with the chain architecture of (A/B)‐b‐C‐b‐(A/B) were synthesized by the combination of single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization, atom‐transfer radical polymerization, and click chemistry. Single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization of NIPAM using α,ω azide‐capped PEG macroinitiator resulted in PNIPAM‐b‐PEG‐b‐PNIPAM with azide groups at the block joints. Atom‐transfer radical polymerization of DMAEMA initiated by propargyl 2‐chloropropionate gave out α‐capped alkyne‐PDMAEMA. The H‐shaped copolymers were finally obtained by the click reaction between PNIPAM‐b‐PEG‐b‐PNIPAM and alkyne‐PDMAEMA. These copolymers were used to prepare stable colloidal gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in aqueous solution without any external reducing agent. The formation of GNPs was affected by the length of PDMAEMA block, the feed ratio of the copolymer to HAuCl₄, and the pH value. The surface plasmon absorbance of these obtained GNPs also exhibited pH and thermal dependence because of the existence of PNIAPM and PDAMEMA blocks. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis,characterization, and micellization of an epoxy‐based amphiphilic diblock copolymer of ϵ‐caprolactone and glycidyl methacrylate by enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

Amphiphilic diblock copolymer polycaprolactone‐block‐poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PCL‐b‐PGMA) was synthesized via enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization (eROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Methanol first initiated eROP of ?‐caprolactone (?‐CL) in the presence of biocatalyst Novozyme‐435 under anhydrous conditions. The resulting monohydroxyl‐terminated polycaprolactone (PCL–OH) was subsequently converted to a bromine‐ended macroinitiator (PCL–Br) for ATRP by esterification with α‐bromopropionyl bromide. PCL‐b‐PGMA diblock copolymers were synthesized in a subsequent ATRP of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). A kinetic analysis of ATRP indicated a living/controlled radical process. The macromolecular structures were characterized for PCL–OH, PCL–Br, and the block copolymers by means of nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and infrared spectroscopy. Differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analyses indicated that the copolymer composition (?‐CL/GMA) had a great influence on the thermal properties. The well‐defined, amphiphilic diblock copolymer PCL‐b‐PGMA self‐assembled into nanoscale micelles in aqueous solutions, as investigated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5037–5049, 2007     

Simple route for synthesis of H‐shaped copolymers

The H‐shaped copolymers, [poly(L ‐lactide)]₂polystyrene [poly(L ‐lactide)]₂, [(PLLA)₂PSt(PLLA)₂] have been synthesized by combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP). The first step of the synthesis is ATRP of St using α,α′‐dibromo‐p‐xylene/CuBr/2,2′‐bipyridine as initiating system, and then the PSt with two bromine groups at both chain ends (Br–PSt–Br) were transformed to four terminal hydroxyl groups via the reaction of Br–PSt–Br with diethanolamine in N,N‐dimethylformamide. The H‐shaped copolymers were produced by CROP of LLA, using PSt with four terminal hydroxyl groups as macroinitiator and Sn(Oct)₂ as catalyst. The copolymers obtained were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2794–2801, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of pH sensitive poly(glycidol)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) block copolymers

Block copolymers of poly(glycidol)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) were obtained by ATRP of 4‐vinylpyridine initiated by ω‐(2‐chloropropionyl) poly(glycidol) macroinitiators. By changing the monomer/macroinitiator ratio in the synthesis polymers with varied P4VP/PGl molar ratio were obtained. The obtained block copolymers showed pH sensitive solubility. It was found that the linkage of a hydrophilic poly(glycidol) block to a P4VP influenced the pK_a value of P4VP. DLS measurements showed the formation of fully collapsed aggregates exceeding pH 4.7. Above this pH values the collapsed P4VP core of the aggregates was stabilized by a surrounding hydrophilic poly(glycidol) corona. The size of the aggregates depended significantly upon the composition of the block copolymers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1782–1794, 2009