RAFT synthesis of a water‐soluble triblock copolymer of poly(styrenesulfonate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(styrenesulfonate) using a macromolecular chain transfer agent in aqueous solution |
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| Authors: | Zhiping Peng Dandan Wang Xinxing Liu Zhen Tong |
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| Institution: | 1. Research Institute of Materials Science, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China;2. Research Institute of Materials Science, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, ChinaResearch Institute of Materials Science, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China |
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| Abstract: | Triblock copolymers of poly(styrenesulfonate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(styrenesulfonate) with narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn = 1.28–1.40) and well‐defined structure have been synthesized in aqueous solution at 70 °C via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) capped with 4‐cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate end groups was used as the macro chain transfer agent (PEG macro‐CTA) for sole monomer sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate. The reaction was controllable and displayed living polymerization characteristics and the triblock copolymer had designed molecular weight. The reaction rate depended strongly on the CTA and initiator concentration ratio CTA]0/ACPA]0: an increase in CTA]0/ACPA]0 from 1.0 to 5.0 slowed down the polymerization rate and improved the molecular weight distribution with a prolonged induction time. The polymerization proceeded, following first‐order kinetics when CTA]0/ACPA]0 = 2.5 and 5.0. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3698–3706, 2007 |
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| Keywords: | block copolymer poly(ethylene glycol) poly(styrenesulfonate) reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) water‐soluble polymer |
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