Ligated anionic block copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with n-butyl acrylate and n-nonyl acrylate as promoted by lithium 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxide/diphenylmethyllithium

Poly(methyl methacrylate-b-n-butyl acrylate) (PMMA-b-Pn-BuA) and poly(methyl methacrylate-b-n-nonyl acrylate) (PMMA-b-Pn-NonA) diblock copolymers have been successfully synthesized by the sequential anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and the n-alkyl acrylate (n-BuA or n-NonA), in a 90/10 toluene/tetrahydrofuran (THF) mixture at −78°C. When diphenylmethyllithium (DPMLi) ligated with lithium 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxide (LiOEEM) is used as the initiator, the polymerization of each block appears to be living. Molecular weight and composition of block copolymers can be predicted from the monomer over initator molar ratio and the molecular weight distribution is narrow. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) supports that no homo-PMMA contaminates the final copolymer. Although the reverse polymerization sequence Pn-NonA-b-PMMA always results in some contamination by homo-Pn-NonA, it has no really significant effect on the final product characteristics. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 1543–1548, 1997     

Preparation of amphiphilic networks by Diels-Alder reactions between oligo(butyl methacrylate) with furan end-groups and a poly(ethylene oxide-co-acetylenedicarboxylate)

A butyl methacrylate oligomer with furan end-groups was synthesized by ozonolysing a poly(butyl methacrylate-co-butadiene) latex. The end-groups of this oligomer were amidated with aminomethylfuran to give a coagulated mass of derivatized oligomers. This furan functional oligomer was then mixed with poly(ethylene oxide-co-acetylenedicarboxylate) and heated at 60°C or 125°C. The material cured at 125°C was found to contain a higher gel fraction (55 wt.-%) than that cured at 60°C (30 wt.-%).     

Grafting of polymer matrix to exfoliated montmorillonite nanoplatelets in nanocomposite film cast from soap‐free emulsion polymerized latex and its fortified mechanical properties

Poly(methyl acrylate‐co‐methyl methacrylate) [P(MA‐co‐MMA)] nanocomposite film containing 1 wt % of montmorillonite (MMT) exhibited unusual higher ductility, higher strain recovery ratio after creep, and higher modulus and strength compared to neat P(MA‐co‐MMA) as they were cast from their individual latices fabricated by soap‐free emulsion polymerization. The fortified mechanical properties were attributed to the MgO components of exfoliated MMT nanoplatelets being grafted by P(MA‐co‐MMA) chains as verified by FTIR and XPS spectroscopies, which to the best of our knowledge is the first time in the literature providing the direct evidence for the polymer chains grafting onto the exfoliated MMT. TEM investigation of the stretched nanocomposite film revealed that the microcracks in the nanocomposite film appeared mainly in the bulk region of polymer matrix, implying that the interfacial strength between P(MA‐co‐MMA) and its grafted MMT nanoplatelets was higher than the cohesion strength of P(MA‐co‐MMA). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5891–5897, 2009     

Helix-sense-selective copolymerization of phenyl[bis(2-pyridyl)]methyl methacrylate,diphenyl(2-pyridyl)methyl methacrylate and triphenylmethyl methacrylate with chiral anionic initiators

Optically active poly[triphenylmethyl methacrylate-co-phenyl[bis(2-pyridyl)]methyl methacrylate] (poly[TrMA-co-PB2PyMA], poly[diphenyl(2-pyridyl)methyl methacrylate-co-phenyl[bis(2-pyridyl)]methyl methacrylate] (poly[D2PyMA-co-PB2PyMA]), and poly[triphenylmethyl methacrylate-co-diphenyl(2-pyridyl)-methyl methacrylate] (poly[TrMA-co-D2PyMA]) were prepared by helix-sense-selective copolymerization with complexes of organolithium with (−)-sparteine [(−)Sp],(S, S)-(+)- and (R, R)-(−)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-bis(dimethylamino)butane [(+)- and (−)DDB], and (S)-(+)-2-(1-pyrrolidinylmethyl)pyridine [(+)PMP] as anionic initiators in toluene at low temperature. The copolymers obtained with (−)Sp and (+)DDB or (−)DDB complexes of organolithium showed low optical activity, but to [(+)PMP] complex with N,N′-diphenyleneamine monolithium amide [(+)PMP–DPEDA–Li)] was effective in synthesizing copolymers of high optical rotation ([α] about +320 to + 370°) which were comparable to those of corresponding homopolymers with one-handed helical structure. The optical rotations of poly[TrMA-co-PB2PyMA] and poly[TrMA-co-D2PyMA] were much more stable than that of poly(D2PyMA) or poly(PB2PyMA) in a solution of CHCl₃–2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (10 : 1, v/v) at 25°C, but optical rotation of poly[D2PyMA-co-PB2PyMA] slowly decreased with time in the same conditions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2127–2133, 1998     

Electrosteric stability of styrene/acrylic acid copolymer latices under emulsion polymerization reaction conditions

Acrylic acid (AA) is used in many emulsion polymerization formulations to improve the colloidal stability during and after the production of latex products. Theoretically, the improved stability originates from electrostatic repulsion complemented with steric repulsion. The objective of this work was to study the contribution of AA to the colloidal stability of polystyrene and styrene/AA copolymer latices under simulated reaction conditions. The strength of electrostatic and steric repulsion forces as a function of the electrolyte concentration, pH, and temperature was investigated via coagulation experiments with monomer‐swollen latices in stirred tank reactors. Transmission electron microscopy pictures and dynamic light scattering measurements provided an understanding of the conditions and mechanisms leading to coagulation. The experiments demonstrated that the presence of surface‐bound carboxylic groups only improved the colloidal stability if the carboxylic groups were charged, that is, at a high pH. At a low pH, the copolymer latices were even less stable than the homopolymer latex, and this indicated that the addition of AA did not improve the colloidal stability of a growing polystyrene latex. With respect to emulsion polymerization process operations, insufficient mixing and a highly concentrated electrolyte feed were found to be sources of fouling and enhanced macroscopic coagulation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 726–732, 2005     

A novel synthesis of acrylic acid containing polymers

A novel synthesis of linear acrylic acid containing polymers, poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) and poly(acrylic acid), was accomplished through hydrolysis of the respective parent polymers, i.e. poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylate) and poly(methyl acrylate), with trimethylsilyl iodide under mild conditions. Combination of ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, DSC and chemical titration confirms that the conversion from methoxycarbonyl to carboxyl is almost complete. This method is further successfully applied to synthesize poly-(ethyl methacrylate-co-acrylic acid) through selective hydrolysis of the methyl acrylate units in poly(ethyl methacrylate-co-methyl acrylate).     

Mechanical properties of dual-phase polymer electrolytes prepared from poly(styrene-co-butadiene) rubber/poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) rubber mixed latices

Mechanical properties of two dual-phase polymer electrolytes (DPEs), prepared from poly(styrene-co-butadiene) rubber (SBR) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) rubber (NBR) latices, are studied. Both DPEs are composed of an SBR supporting phase and an ionconductive phase of NBR/lithium salt solution. The first DPE maintains a tensile strength of 0.5 MPa and elongation of 280% with an ionic conductivity of 10^?3 S/cm. Although the glass transition relaxations based on the dual-phase structure are not resolved in this DPE because of the proximity of the glass transition temperatures of the SBR and NBR, the glass transition shifts to a lower temperature due to the plasticization by the lithium salt solution. In the second DPE, two distinctive glass transition relaxations, corresponding to the SBR and NBR phases, are observed in the viscoelasticity versus temperature measurement, indicating the dual-phase structure. A simple equivalent mechanical model, which is modified from the Takayanagi model, is introduced to elucidate the mechanical behavior of the dual-phase structure in the second DPE. According to this model, 8% of DPE is a mechanically continuous SBR phase in the tensile direction, which effectively gives mechanical support to the DPE. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structural effect of polymeric acid dopants on the characteristics of doped polyaniline composites: Effect of hydrogen bonding

The conductivities of polyaniline (PANi) composites doped with the copolymeric acids such as poly(methyl methacrylate-co-p-styrenesulfonic acid) (PMMA-co-SSA), poly(styrene-co-p-styrenesulfonic acid) (PS-co-SSA), and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PMMA-co-AMPS) were investigated as a function of the acid content in the copolymeric acid dopants. With the fixed ratio of acid to aniline (1/1) in the PANi composites, the conductivities of the copolymeric acid-doped PANis decreased as the acid content in the copolymeric acids decreased. This could be attributed to the nonacidic units in the copolymeric acids which seemed to prevent adjacent acid groups from doping the PANi. Among the three kinds of copolymeric acid dopants, the PMMA-co-SSA series doped the PANi most effectively, and consequently, the PMMA-co-SSA-doped PANi composites showed the highest conductivities. The lack of conductivities of the PMMA-co-AMPS-doped PANi composites seems to be due to the doping ability of the AMPS groups. The higher conductivities of the PMMA-co-SSA-doped PANi composites rather than the PS-co-SSA-doped ones were attributed to the hydrogen bonding formed between the carbonyl groups in MMA and the amine groups in aniline which may hinder the phase separation and induce more homogeneous mixing and efficient doping. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1431–1439, 1998     

Effect of ion content in ionomer on the ion conductivity of polymer electrolytes based on the P(MMA-co-LiMA)/PEG/LiCF3SO3 blend

We have prepared polymer electrolytes composed of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-lithium methacrylate) ionomer (P(MMA-co-LiMA)), low molecular weight PEG, and LiCF₃SO₃ salt. The ion groups in P(MMA-co-LiMA) could enhance the miscibility between the MMA units and PEG in the polymer electrolytes. This miscibility enhancement made the pathway of ion transport less tortuous, and consequently led to the increase in ion conductivity. The maximum ambient ion conductivities in these systems were measured to be in the range of 10⁻⁴–10⁻⁵ S/cm. The polymer electrolytes became transparent at the higher ion content owing to the enhanced miscibility. The mechanical stability of the polymer electrolytes was also improved through the introduction of ion groups into the PMMA. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 991–997, 1998     

Miscibility of poly(butyl methacrylate-CO-methacrylic acid) or poly(styrene-CO-methacrylic acid) with poly(styrene-CO-4-vinylpyridine) or poly(butyl methacrylate-CO-4-vinylpyridine)

The miscibility of blends of copolymers of different compositions of butyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid or styrene-co-methacrylic acid with styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine or butyl methacrylate-co-4-vinylpyridine was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was found that these blends were miscible in part as a result of specific favorable interactions between the carboxylic acid and pyridine groups within the polymer chains. Evidence of such interactions was obtained from the single composition-dependent glass transition temperature and the FTIR results.     

Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐N,O‐dimethacryloylhydroxylamine) particles by dispersion polymerization

Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐N,O‐dimethacryloylhydroxylamine) particles were prepared by dispersion polymerization in toluene/2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol medium using cellulose acetate butyrate and dibenzoyl peroxide (BPO) as a steric stabilizer and initiator, respectively. The particle size was reduced with decreasing solvency of the reaction medium (more nuclei were generated) because the critical chain length of the precipitated oligomers decreased with an increasing toluene content, which is a poorer solvent for the polymer than 2‐methylpropan‐1‐ol. There is an optimum initiator concentration (2 wt % BPO relative to monomers) for producing low‐polydispersity particles under given conditions. Additionally, discrete spherical particles were obtained at a low monomer concentration and/or higher polymerization temperature. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1625–1632, 2002     

Synthesis of photosensitive and thermosetting poly(phenylene ether) based on poly[2,6‐di(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)phenol‐co‐2,6‐dimethyl‐phenol] and a photoacid generator

A chemically amplified photosensitive and thermosetting polymer based on poly[2,6‐di(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)phenol (15 mol %)‐co‐2,6‐dimethylphenol (85 mol %)] ( 3c ) and a photoacid generator [(5‐propylsulfonyloxyimino‐5H‐thiophen‐2‐ylidene)‐(2‐methylphenyl)acetonitrile] was developed. Poly[2,6‐bis(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)phenol]‐co‐2,6‐dimethylphenol)] ( 3 ) with high molecular weights (number‐average molecular weight ～ 24,000) was prepared by the oxidative coupling copolymerization of 2,6‐di(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)phenol with 2,6‐dimethylphenol in the presence of copper(I) chloride and pyridine as the catalyst under a stream of oxygen. The structures of 3 were characterized with IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. 3 was crosslinked by a thermal treatment at 300 °C for 1 h under N₂. The 5% weight loss temperatures and glass‐transition temperatures of the cured copolymers reached around 420 °C in nitrogen and 300 °C, respectively. The average refractive index of the cured copolymer ( 3c ) film was 1.5452, from which the dielectric constant at 1 MHz was estimated to be 2.6. The resist showed a sensitivity of 35 mJ cm^?2 and a contrast of 1.6 when it was exposed to 436‐nm light, postexposure‐baked at 145 °C for 5 min, and developed with toluene at 25 °C. A fine negative image featuring 8‐μm line‐and‐space patterns was obtained on a film exposed to 100 mJ cm^?2 with 436‐nm light in the contact‐printed mode. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 149–156, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of carboxylic acid‐terminated polyisobutylenes

tert-Chloride-terminated polyisobutylenes (PIB) (1020 ≤ M_n ≤ 6700 g/mol) were dehydrochlorinated nonregiospecifically using basic alumina, or regiospecifically either via potassium tert-butoxide or in situ quenching of quasiliving PIB. Olefin-terminated PIBs were quantitatively ozonized at −78 °C using hexane/methylene chloride/methanol, 62/31/7 (v/v/v) cosolvents, and an ozone generator, employing pure oxygen as source gas. The primary ozonides were reduced using trimethyl phosphite to yield pure PIB methyl ketone from exo-olefin PIB, and a mixture of PIB methyl ketone and PIB aldehyde from mixed olefin-PIB. PIB methyl ketone was oxidized to carboxylate via the haloform reaction; titration revealed near-quantitative functionalization, but the reaction was slow. Tetrahalomethane oxidation was identified as a preferred alternative method, and was conducted using either CCl₄ as the reaction solvent, THF as the solvent with CCl₄ in reagent amounts, or hexane as the solvent with a phase-transfer catalyst and CCl₄ in reagent amounts. The system using hexane, with tetra-n-butyl ammonium chloride as phase-transfer catalyst, showed complete conversion in ∼ 4 h. PIB carboxylic acid was recovered by acidification and isolation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3229–3240, 2008     

Monodisperse poly(chloromethylstyrene-co-divinylbenzene) microspheres by precipitation polymerization

Monodisperse poly(chloromethylstyrene-co-divinylbenzene-80) microspheres of 4–6-µm diameter were prepared by precipitation copolymerization in neat acetonitrile and in acetonitrile/toluene mixtures. These particles have clean surfaces due to the absence of any added stabilizer and up to 0.5 cm³/g pore volume, depending on the comonomer ratio and on the amount of toluene cosolvent. The effects of comonomer and cosolvent ratios on microsphere formation and morphology are described. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2295–2303, 1999     

Control of thermoresponsivity of biocompatible poly(trimethylene carbonate) with direct introduction of oligo(ethylene glycol) under various circumstances

Poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) is a well‐known biodegradable polymer with good biocompatible properties which make it suitable for biomedical applications. Poly(5‐[2‐{2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyoxy}‐ethoxymethyl]‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxa‐2‐one) (PTMC‐MOE3OM) and copolymers, bearing oligo ethylene glycol (OEG) at the side chain of PTMC backbone, were selected to investigate the cloud point behavior by solvents such as PBS, water, 10% ethanol solution and various ionic strengths. A pH‐responsive copolymer, poly(TMCM‐MOE3OM‐co‐(5‐methyl‐5‐carboxylic‐1,3‐dioxane‐2‐one)) as carboxylic acid carbonate showed a decreased critical temperature at pH 2. Photo‐responsive copolymer, poly(TMCM‐MOE3OM‐co‐coumarin derivatives) bearing 1% and 10% of photo‐induced molecules (7‐[(5‐(5‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxa‐2‐one)methoxy)]‐methoxy coumarin (TMCM‐coumarin)) exhibited a low cloud point because of the hydrophobic moieties. Meanwhile, alternative coumarin polymer including 2% of 4‐methyl‐7‐[(5‐(5‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxa‐2‐one)methoxy)butoxy)]‐methoxy coumarin (TMCM‐4‐methyl‐coumarin) has been successfully synthesized and copolymerized as a novel molecule. The various combinations of monomers were studied and the significant properties were determined via external triggers after copolymerization. This study showed basically synthetic progress toward designs and trivial rationalization of thermoresponsive copolymers close to body temperature. At present, various pendant groups as side part affect to the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and biodegradable polymer in order to utilize the actual external stimuli application. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3466–3474     

Synthesis and applications of acid-labile acrylic polymers

A variety of acrylic and methacrylic acetal esters were synthesized by reaction of unsaturated carboxylic acids with vinyl ethers. The acetal esters were converted by radical polymerization and GTP to acid-labile homo- and copolymers. Coatings of these polymeric acetal esters containing photosensitive acid-generating compounds are useful in image-formation through chemical amplification. Thus, poly(tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate-co-benzyl methacrylate) can be used in positive working deep UV microlithography. Poly(tetrahydropyranyl acrylate), coated in a thin layer over a tacky elastomer, provides a high resolution, water-developable negative working tonable composition. Several polymeric and nonpolymeric acetal esters can be used for positive working electrostatic imaging through changes in electrical conductivity.     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene)-block-polysulfide-block-poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene) copolymers by free radical polymerization combined with oxidative coupling

Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene)-block-polysulfide-block-poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene) triblock copolymers were synthesized for the first time by the free radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) in the presence of a thiocol oligomer as a chain transfer agent, followed by chemical oxidation of the remaining SH-end groups. The apparent chain transfer constant of the thiocol SH groups in the copolymerization reaction was estimated from the rate of consumption of the thiol groups versus the overall rate of consumption of the monomers (C_T = 1.28). Based on this value, the chain transfer constant of the thiocol SH groups in St polymerization was calculated . The triblock copolymers synthesized were characterized by SEC and ¹H NMR measurements.     

Preparation and characterization of thermoresponsive isopropylacrylamide–hydroxyethylmethacrylate copolymer gels

A random copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and 2-hydroxyethylmeth-acrylate, poly(NIPAM-co-HEMA), having thermoresponsive character was prepared bya redox copolymerization method. Poly(ethylene glycol), PEG 4000 was included in the copolymerization recipe to increase the thermoresponsivity of copolymeric structure. Poly(NIPAM-co-HEMA) copolymer gels having more elastic character and higher mechanical strength relative to poly(NIPAM) gel could be achieved by the proposed copolymerization procedure. The equilibrium and dynamic response against the temperature were investigated for the gel matrices produced by changing the initial NIPAM/HEMA mol ratio and PEG 4000 concentration in the copolymerization mixture. The effective diffusion coefficient of water within the gel matrix was estimated for either swollen or shrunken states by applying an unsteady-state diffusion model on the dynamic swelling and shrinking behaviors of gel matrix prepared in the cylindrical form. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 527–541, 1998     

Polystyrene latices containing dodecanamide‐modified poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers

Polymerization of styrene in aqueous dispersions of the dodecanamide derivative of poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer DAB‐dendr‐(NH₂)₆₄ and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) produced stable latices. With initial SDS concentrations of 10 mM or less, molar ratios of SDS to dendrimer end groups ranging from 2.3:1 to 9.5:1, and less than 10 wt % of SDS relative to styrene, the polystyrene latices had diameters of 30–60 nm and coefficients of variation of diameters of less than 10% when measured by transmission electron microscopy. Higher concentrations of SDS gave more polydisperse latices. The polystyrene latices formed with SDS and the dodecanamide‐modified dendrimer were almost the same size and polydispersity as those formed with SDS and the parent primary amine dendrimer DAB‐dendr‐(NH₂)₆₄. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 597–605, 2003     

The synthesis of poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene) and poly[(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-co-(3,4-dihydroxystyrene)]

Poly(2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol), polyMVP, and poly[(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-co-(2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol)], poly(SSS/MVP), were synthesized by radical polymerization using Vazo-64 or tributylborane as initiator. Poly(3,4-dihydroxystyrene) and poly[(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)-co-(3,4-dihydroxystyrene)] were obtained by demethylation of polyMVP and poly(SSS/MVP) using HBr and trimethylsilyl iodide, respectively. (Co)polymer structures were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. About 30 wt.-% gel formed in the polyMVP polymerizations, whereas only a small amount (0.5 mol-%) of gel formed in the copolymerizations.