Ab Initio Emulsion Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization

Stable latexes of poly(meth)acrylates with predetermined molecular weights, narrow molecular‐weight distributions, and controlled architecture were prepared by true ab initio emulsion atom‐transfer radical polymerization. Water‐soluble (macro)initiators in combination with a hydrophilic catalyst, Cu/tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine, initiated the polymerization in the aqueous phase. The catalyst strongly interacted with the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), thereby tuning the polymerization within nucleated hydrophobic polymer particles. Long‐term stable latexes were obtained, even with SDS loading below 3 wt % relative to monomer. Block and gradient copolymers were prepared in situ. The reaction volume and solid content were successfully increased to 100 mL and 40 vol %, respectively, thus suggesting facile scale‐up of this technique. The proposed setup could be integrated in existing industrial plants used for emulsion polymerization.     

Reverse Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization at Room Temperature

This paper aims at reporting on the “living”/controlled radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with the benzoyl peroxide (BPO)/Cu^IX (X=Br,Cl)/2,2'‐bipyridine (bpy) redox system at room temperature. No control is observed for the polymerization conducted in bulk and in toluene, whereas a polymer with predetermined molecular weight and rather narrow molecular weight distribution is formed in butanone. The solvent has thus a decisive effect on the reverse atom‐transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated with the BPO/Cu^IX (X = Br,Cl)/bpy ternary system at 25°C.     

Atom‐Transfer Radical Batch and Semibatch Polymerization of Styrene

Batch and semibatch styrene polymerizations are carried out using a heterogeneous ATRP catalyst system that provides excellent molecular‐weight control. The observed initiator efficiency is lower for semibatch operation due to the high initiator concentrations required to make a low‐MW polymer. Experiments verified that the insoluble metal complex does not participate in the polymerization and that Cu(I) solubility is an order of magnitude higher than that of Cu(II). A mechanistic model, using kinetic coefficients from literature and the solubility data from this study, provides a good representation of the experimental results.

     

丙烯酰胺在离子液体中的原子转移自由基聚合

在1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑四氟硼酸盐离子液体中以氯化苄为引发剂,氯化亚铜/2,2’-联吡啶为催化剂成功实现了丙烯酰胺的原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)。用IR对聚合物的结构进行了表征,证实聚合物链端具有-Cl端基。考察了引发剂用量、催化剂和配体用量、单体用量和反应时间等因素对丙烯酰胺在离子液体中的原子转移自由基聚合的影响,结果表明,反应时间为1.5 h时转化率达到31.43%,M_n^GPC=4451,M_w/M_n=1.38。且80 ℃下丙烯酰胺在离子液体中的最佳聚合工艺条件为：单体浓度3 mol/L,引发剂浓度0.010 mol/L,催化剂浓度0.015 mol/L,反应时间1 h。     

Mathematical Modeling of Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization Using Bifunctional Initiators

Summary: Bifunctional initiators can produce polymers with higher molecular weight at higher initiator concentrations than monofunctional initiators. In this study, we developed a mathematical model for ATRP with bifunctional initiators. The most important reactions in ATRP were included in the model. The method of moments was used to predict monomer conversion, average molecular weights and polydispersity index as a function of polymerization time in batch reactors. The model was used to understand the mechanism of ATRP and to quantify how polymerization conditions affect monomer conversion and polymer properties by examining the effect of several rate constants (activation, deactivation, propagation and chain termination) and of catalyst and initiator concentration on polymerization kinetics and polymer properties. When compared to monofunctional initiators, bifunctional initiators not only produce polymers with higher molecular weight averages at higher polymerization rates, but also control their molecular weight distributions more effectively.

Effect of initial catalyst concentration on polydispersity index as a function of time.     

A Chaperonin as Protein Nanoreactor for Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization

The group II chaperonin thermosome (THS) from the archaea Thermoplasma acidophilum is reported as nanoreactor for atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A copper catalyst was entrapped into the THS to confine the polymerization into this protein cage. THS possesses pores that are wide enough to release polymers into solution. The nanoreactor favorably influenced the polymerization of N‐isopropyl acrylamide and poly(ethylene glycol)methylether acrylate. Narrowly dispersed polymers with polydispersity indices (PDIs) down to 1.06 were obtained in the protein nanoreactor, while control reactions with a globular protein–catalyst conjugate only yielded polymers with PDIs above 1.84.     

Controlling the Degree of Branching in Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization of Hyperbranched Polyacrylates

Atom‐transfer radical polymerizations of 2‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy)ethyl acrylate (BPEA) and 4‐(2‐bromopropionyloxy)butyl acrylate (BPBA) provided hyperbranched polyacrylates (HPEA and HPBA, respectively) in this study. The rate of polymerization of BPEA was faster than that of BPBA and the degree of branching of HPEA was higher than that of HPBA under the same reaction conditions. The degree of branching (DB) of the hyperbranched polyacrylates was enhanced in the presence of acetone or methanol as a cosolvent. In particular, the use of acetone resulted in a higher DB than that observed in methanol by generating the proper reactivity ratio of the two propagating sites.     

Cytocompatible Polymer Grafting from Individual Living Cells by Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization

A cytocompatible method of surface‐initiated, activator regenerated by electron transfer, atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ARGET ATRP) is developed for engineering cell surfaces with synthetic polymers. Dopamine‐based ATRP initiators are used for both introducing the ATRP initiator onto chemically complex cell surfaces uniformly (by the material‐independent coating property of polydopamine) and protecting the cells from radical attack during polymerization (by the radical‐scavenging property of polydopamine). Synthetic polymers are grafted onto the surface of individual yeast cells without significant loss of cell viability, and the uniform and dense grafting is confirmed by various characterization methods including agglutination assay and cell‐division studies. This work will provide a strategic approach to the generation of living cell–polymer hybrid structures and open the door to their application in multitude of areas, such as sensor technology, catalysis, theranostics, and cell therapy.     

In Situ AFM Investigation of Electrochemically Induced Surface‐Initiated Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization

Electrochemically induced surface‐initiated atom‐transfer radical polymerization is traced by in situ AFM technology for the first time, which allows visualization of the polymer growth process. It affords a fundamental insight into the surface morphology and growth mechanism simultaneously. Using this technique, the polymerization kinetics of two model monomers were studied, namely the anionic 3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt (SPMA) and the cationic 2‐(metharyloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium chloride (METAC). The growth of METAC is significantly improved by screening the ammonium cations by the addition of ionic liquid electrolyte in aqueous solution.     

First Nitroxide‐Mediated Controlled/Living Free Radical Polymerization in an Ionic Liquid

Summary: The controlled/living radical polymerizations of methyl acrylate in 50% v/v of an ionic liquid initiated by the alkoxyamine generated in situ from 4‐oxo‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyl‐N‐oxyl (4‐oxo‐TEMPO) and 2,2′‐azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 140–155 °C are reported. The number‐average molecular weights increased linearly with conversion, and polydispersity indices are approximately 1.4 in the best case. The rates of polymerization were greater than in anisole, and similar to the rate of spontaneous polymerization in the ionic liquid.

(filled symbols) and (open symbols) vs. conversion for the MA polymerization in the presence of [4‐oxo‐TEMPO]/[AIBN] (2.8:1) in 50% v/v anisole with 0.03 M AIBN (squares) and 50% v/v [hmim][PF₆] with 0.03 M AIBN (circles), and 0.06 M AIBN (triangles).     

A Breathing Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization: Fully Oxygen‐Tolerant Polymerization Inspired by Aerobic Respiration of Cells

The first well‐controlled aqueous atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) conducted in the open air is reported. This air‐tolerant ATRP was enabled by the continuous conversion of oxygen to carbon dioxide catalyzed by glucose oxidase (GOx), in the presence of glucose and sodium pyruvate as sequential sacrificial substrates. Controlled polymerization using initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR) ATRP of oligo(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate (OEOMA, M_n=500) yielded polymers with low dispersity (1.09≤?≤1.29) and molecular weights (MWs) close to theoretical values in the presence of pyruvate. Without added pyruvates, lower MWs were observed due to generation of new chains by H₂O₂ formed by reaction of O₂ with GOx. Successful chain extension of POEOMA₅₀₀ macroinitiator with OEOMA₃₀₀ (?≤1.3) and Bovine Serum Albumin bioconjugates (?≤1.22) confirmed a well‐controlled polymerization. The reactions in the open air in larger scale (25 mL) were also successful.     

Mathematical Modeling of Atom‐Transfer Radical Copolymerization

A comprehensive mathematical model for atom transfer radical copolymerization in a batch reactor is presented using the concept of pseudo‐kinetic rate constants and the method of moments. The model describes molecular weight, monomer conversion, polydispersity index, and copolymer composition as a function of polymerization time. Model predictions were compared with experimental data for styrene and butyl acrylate copolymerization and excellent agreement was obtained. We have also tested the model with styrene‐acrylonitrile copolymerization data obtained in our laboratory. Finally, we used the model to study the effect of comonomer reactivity ratio, feed composition, activation and deactivation rate constants on the copolymer composition.

     

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites: Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization with Acidic Monomers

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are artificial receptors which can be tailored to bind target molecules specifically. A new method, using photoinitiated atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) for their synthesis as monoliths, thin films and nanoparticles is described. The synthesis takes place at room temperature and is compatible with acidic monomers, two major limitations for the use of ATRP with MIPs. The method has been validated with MIPs specific for the drugs testosterone and S‐propranolol. This study considerably widens the range of functional monomers and thus molecular templates which can be used when MIPs are synthesized by ATRP, as well as the range of physical forms of these antibody mimics, in particular films and lithographic patterns, and their post‐functionalization from living chain‐ends.     

Atom‐Transfer Radical Polymerization of 2‐(N,N‐Dimethylamino)ethyl Acrylate

ATRP of 2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) was investigated using CuBr or CuCl with different multidentate ligands. The catalyst was found active for DMAEA polymerization when ligated with tris[2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl]amine. Good control over molecular weight was achieved, but quaternization of the terminal monomeric/polymeric tertiary amine by the C Br group of polyDMAEA caused chain termination. Using a chloride‐based system helped to suppress chain termination. Amphiphilic poly(methyl acrylate)‐block‐polyDMAEA was synthesized using polyMA as a macroinitiator.

Molecular weights and polydispersities of polyDMAEA versus DMAEA conversion for different catalyst systems.