Functionalization of polymers prepared by ATRP using radical addition reactions

Low molecular weight linear poly(methyl acrylate), star and hyperbranched polymers were synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and end‐functionalized using radical addition reactions. By adding allyltri‐n‐butylstannane at the end of the polymerization of poly(methyl acrylate), the polymer was terminated by allyl groups. When at high conversions of the acrylate monomer, allyl alcohol or 1,2‐epoxy‐5‐hexene, monomers which are not polymerizable by ATRP, were added, alcohol and epoxy functionalities respectively were incorporated at the polymer chain end. Functionalization by radical addition reactions was demonstrated to be applicable to multi‐functional polymers such as hyperbranched and star polymers.     

SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERS WITH PHOSPHONIUM END GROUPS BY ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION

The end groups of polymers prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), are well-defined and determined by the initiator used, at least one of them is a halogen end group. The halogen end groups can be transformed to other functionalities such as phosphonium salts as demonstrated in this paper. Kinetic studies with the compounds 1-phenylethyl bromide and methyl 2-bromopropionate, models for the polystyrene and polyacrylate chain ends respectively, indicated that bromine end groups were readily transformed to phosphonium end groups upon the addition of phosphines. Stability tests with the obtained phosphonium salts showed that 1-phenylethyl trialkylphosphonium bromide was stable, even at higher temperatures and in the presence of free phosphines. The stability of the propionate analogue was limited due to the presence of the ester group in the molecule. Polystyrene and poly(methyl acrylate) phosphonium salts were synthesized and the presence of the end groups was demonstrated by ¹H NMR and ESI-MS or MALDI-TOFMS.     

具树状支化特征的高分子构筑单元及其聚合行为

合成了两种具树状支化特征的新化合物,这些楔形分子的弧形端围有多个羟基而顶端带双键,成为可聚合单体．同时研究了这类楔形分子在自由基引发体系中的聚合行为,结果表明,这些单体与一般烯丙基类单体的聚合行为一致,楔形分子的多个羟基及其分布基本不影响烯基的聚合活性．顶端为烯丙基醚的树状单体可与丙烯腈等带吸电子基团的单体共聚,但不能进行均聚;而顶端为甲基丙烯酸酯的树状单体均聚及与丙烯腈共聚的反应都可以顺利进行．这类多羟基的楔形分子水溶性非常好,由其构筑而成的聚合物大都也是水溶性高分子     

Synthesis of polyallene‐based graft copolymer via 6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadien‐4‐ol and styrene

A series of well‐defined graft copolymers with a polyallene‐based backbone and polystyrene side chains were synthesized by the combination of living coordination polymerization of 6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadien‐4‐ol and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. Poly(alcohol) with polyallene repeating units were prepared via 6‐methyl‐1,2‐heptadien‐4‐ol by living coordination polymerization initiated by [(η³‐allyl)NiOCOCF₃]₂ firstly, followed by transforming the pendant hydroxyl groups into halogen‐containing ATRP initiation groups. Grafting‐from route was employed in the following step for the synthesis of the well‐defined graft copolymer: polystyrene was grafted to the backbone via ATRP of styrene. The cleaved polystyrene side chains show a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.06). This kind of graft copolymer is the first example of graft copolymer via allene derivative and styrenic monomer. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5509–5517, 2007     

END GROUP TRANSFORMATION OF POLYMERS PREPARED BY ATRP,SUBSTITUTION TO AZIDES

Polystyrenes, polyacrylates and poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) have predictable molecular weights, low polydispersities and well-defined halogen end groups. The halogen end groups have been substituted by other functionalities such as azides and amines. In order to predict the feasibility and selectivity of nucleophilic substitution reactions, the reactivities of the end groups of the different polymers were studied. First, model studies with benzyl halide (BzX), 1-phenylethyl halide (1-PEX), methyl 2-halopropionate (MXP), ethyl 2-bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) and 2-halopropionitrile (2-XPN) were performed. The models compounds were dissolved in DMF and after adding sodium azide (1.1 eq.), the reaction mixtures were stirred at 25°C. The relative magnitude of the rate constants for the reactions with the chlorinated substrates were found to be BzCl > MClP > 1-PECl ≈ 2-ClPN:22 > 6 > 1. Increased substitution at the carbon center decreased the rate of reaction, benzyl chloride reacted 22 times faster than 1-phenylethyl chloride. The brominated substrates reacted very fast. The rate constant of 1-PEBr, determined by competition experiments, was 4.5 times higher than the rate constant of benzyl chloride. Based on these results, the bromine end groups of different polymers were substituted under reaction conditions simular to those used for the model reactions. The end-functionalized polymers were characterized by ¹H-NMR, IR and MALDI-TOFMS.     

Pursuit of reinitiation efficiency of resonance‐stabilized monomeric allyl radical generated via “degradative monomer chain transfer” in allyl polymerization

For a deeper understanding of allyl polymerization mechanism, the reinitiation efficiency of resonance‐stabilized monomeric allyl radical was pursued because in allyl polymerization it is commonly conceived that the monomeric allyl radical generated via the allylic hydrogen abstraction of growing polymer radical from monomer, i.e., “degradative monomer chain transfer,” has much less tendency to initiate a new polymer chain and, therefore, this monomer chain transfer is essentially a termination reaction. Based on the renewed allyl polymerization mechanism in our preceding article, the monomer chain transfer constant in the polymerization of allyl benzoate was estimated to be 2.7 × 10^?2 at 80 °C under the polymerization condition, where the coupling termination reaction of growing polymer radical with allyl radical was negligible and, concurrently, the reinitiation reaction of allyl radical was enhanced significantly. The reinitiation efficiencies of monomeric allyl radical were pursued by the dead‐end polymerizations of allyl benzoate at 80, 105, and 130 °C using a small amount of initiators; they increased remarkably with raised temperature. Thus, the enhanced reinitiation reactivity of allyl radical at an elevated temperature could bias the well‐known degradative monomer chain transfer characteristic of allyl polymerization toward the chain transfer in common vinyl polymerization. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

A Simple and Versatile Method for the Construction of Nearly Ideal Polymer Networks

Polymer networks usually contain numerous inhomogeneities that deteriorate their physical properties and should be eliminated to create reliable, high‐performance materials. A simple method is introduced for the production of nearly ideal networks from various vinyl polymers through controlled polymerization and subsequent crosslinking. Monodisperse star polymers with bromide end groups were synthesized by atom‐transfer radical polymerization and end‐linked with dithiol linkers using thiol–bromide chemistry. This simple procedure formed nearly ideal polymer networks, as revealed from elasticity of the formed gel and model conjugation reactions involving linear polymers. The versatility of this method was demonstrated by preparing networks of common vinyl polymers, including polyacrylates, polymethacrylate, and polystyrene. This method can be used to prepare multiple functional nearly ideal gels and elastomers and to explore fundamental aspects of polymer networks.     

Dehalogenation of polymers prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization

Polymers prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) have well‐defined end groups, predetermined by the initiator used. A typical initiator is an alkyl halide from which the halogen is transferred to one chain end. To remove the halogen end group, dehalogenation with trialkyltin hydride has been used. Procedures for the removal of the polymer halogen end groups are described, one of them being a one‐pot reaction where the dehalogenation of the polymer chain ends occurs immediately after polymerization.     

Polymerization of allyl(vinyl phenyl) ethers and reactions of the resulting polymers

Solution polymerizations of allyl(o-vinyl phenyl)ether and allyl(p-vinyl phenyl)ether with cationic and radical initiators were investigated. Soluble polymers were formed in polymerizations with boron trifluoride etherate and with benzoyl peroxide. In polymerization with azobisisobutyronitrile the polymerization in dilute solution gave a soluble polymer, whereas that in concentrated solution gave a crosslinked, insoluble one. For informationon the polymerization behavior some infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopic investigations of the soluble polymers were made. From these results it appears that polymers with pendant allyl groups are formed in polymerization with boron trifluoride etherate at low temperature, and polymers containing pendant vinyl groups and allyl groups are obtained with the two types of radical initiator. Copolymerizations of these monomers with ethyl vinyl ether and styrene with the use of boron trifluoride etherate were sucessfully effected. Such reactions as Claisen rearrangement, crosslinking induced with radical initiators, and epoxidation with perbenzoic acid were examined for the polymers prepared in the polymerization with boron trifluoride etherate. Good results were obtained for the former two reactions. However, the latter was unsuccessful.     

SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERS WITH AMINO END GROUPS BY ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) is a controlled radical polymerization process that produces polymers with predictable molecular weights, narrow polydispersities, and well-defined halogen end groups. The key factor in the control of the polymerization process is the presence of a metal/ligand complex that provides a fast, reversible activation and deactivation of the growing polymer chains. The ligands, used to complex the metal are mostly tertiary amino compounds. However, amines can interact with the halogen end groups of the initiator molecules or of the growing chains. Our investigations concern-ing this issue indicate that under the experimental conditions used during the polymerization process, interactions of end groups with tertiary amines are negligible. Ammonia and primary amines, e.g., n-butylamine, however can react with the halogen end groups. Moreover, after the polymerization reaction they can be used as nucleophilic agents to replace the halogens by other functional end groups. The use of difunctional molecules such as ethanolamine leads to the incorporation of alcohol end groups at the chain ends.     

Expanding the supramolecular polymer LEGO system: Nitroxide‐mediated living free‐radical polymerization as a tool for mono‐ and telechelic polystyrenes

Nitroxide‐mediated, controlled living radical polymerization was employed to introduce terpyridine ligands at one or two chain ends of polystyrene. For this purpose, a unimolecular initiator bearing both a terpyridine ligand as well as a mediating nitroxide was synthesized and used for the controlled polymerization of styrene. Moreover, a maleimide‐functionalized terpyridine was prepared in order to synthesize telechelic polymers, utilizing nitroxide substitution reactions. Kinetic studies of the polymerization of styrene were carried out. In all polymerizations, special attention was focused on the retention of end‐group functionality, in light of the effects of autoinitiation and autopolymerization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4016–4027, 2004     

Uniform polymer particles by dispersion polymerization in alcohol

Uniform polystyrene particles in 1–10 μm size range and up to 40% solid contents have been prepared by polymerizing styrene in ethyl alcohol with azo-type initiators and a polymeric stabilizer polyvinylpyrrolidone along with an anionic, nonionic, or comonomeric co-stabilizer. Effects of polymerization parameters, such as monomer concentration, type of co-stabilizer, initiator type and concentration, crosslinking monomer, and diluent on average particle size and size distribution have been studied. Functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine, amide, silane, polydimethylsiloxane, and silacrown have been successfully incorporated onto the particles by copolymerization. A mechanism for particle formation and growth in dispersion polymerization is presented.     

Synthesis of perfectly bifunctional polyacrylates by single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization

Poly(methyl acrylate)s, poly(ethyl acrylate)s, and poly(butyl acrylate)s with α,ω‐di(bromo) chain ends and M_n from 8500 to 35,000 were synthesized by single‐electron‐transfer living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP). The analysis of their chain ends by a combination of ¹H and 2D‐NMR, GPC, MALDI‐TOF MS, chain end functionalization, chain extension, and halogen exchange experiments demonstrated the synthesis of perfectly bifunctional polyacrylates by SET‐LRP. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4684–4695, 2007     

Synthesis of mikto‐topology star polymer containing one cyclic arm

Well‐defined mikto‐topology star polystyrene composed of one cyclic arm and four linear arms was synthesized by a combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and Cu‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction. First, the bromine‐alkyne α,ω‐linear polystyrenes containing four hydroxyl groups protected with acetone‐based ketal groups were synthesized by ATRP of styrene using a designed initiator. Then, the bromine end‐group was converted to the azide and the linear polystyrene was cyclized intra‐molecularly by the CuAAC reaction. The four hydroxyl groups were released by deprotection and then esterified with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to produce a cyclic polymer bearing four ATRP initiating units. By subsequent ATRP of styrene to grow linear polymers with the cyclic polystyrene as a macroinitiator, the mikto‐topology star polymers were prepared. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of mid‐ and end‐chain functional telechelics by controlled polymerization methods and coupling processes

Well‐defined polystyrene‐ (PSt) or poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐based polymers containing mid‐ or end‐chain 2,5 or 3,5‐ dibromobenzene moieties were prepared by controlled polymerization methods, such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) or ring opening polymerization (ROP). 1,4‐Dibromo‐2‐(bromomethyl)benzene, 1,3‐dibromo‐5‐(bromomethyl)benzene, and 1,4‐dibromo‐2,5‐di(bromomethyl)benzene were used as initiators in ATRP of styrene (St) in conjunction with CuBr/2,2′‐bipyridine as catalyst. 2,5‐Dibromo‐1,4‐(dihydroxymethyl)benzene initiated the ROP of ε‐caprolactone (CL) in the presence of stannous octoate (Sn(Oct)₂) catalyst. The reaction of these polymers with amino‐ or aldehyde‐functionalized monoboronic acids, in Suzuki‐type couplings, afforded the corresponding telechelics. Further functionalization with oxidable groups such as 2‐pyrrolyl or 1‐naphthyl was attained by condensation reactions of the amino or aldehyde groups with low molecular weight aldehydes or amines, respectively, with the formation of azomethine linkages. Preliminary attempts for the synthesis of fully conjugated poly(Schiff base) with polymeric segments as substituents, by oxidative polymerization of the macromonomers, are presented. All the starting, intermediate, or final polymers were structurally analyzed by spectral methods (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and IR). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 727–743, 2006     

Combining Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization and Click Chemistry: A Versatile Method for the Preparation of End‐Functional Polymers

Summary: The bromine chain ends of well‐defined polystyrene ( = 2 700 g · mol⁻¹, = 1.11) prepared using ATRP were successfully transformed into various functional end groups (ω‐hydroxy, ω‐carboxyl and ω‐methyl‐vinyl) by a two‐step pathway: (1) substitution of the bromine terminal atom by an azide function and (2) 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of the terminal azide and functional alkynes (propargyl alcohol, propiolic acid and 2‐methyl‐1‐buten‐3‐yne). The “click” cycloaddition was catalyzed efficiently by the system copper bromide/4,4′‐di‐(5‐nonyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine. In all cases, ¹H NMR spectra indicated quantitative transformation of the chain ends of polystyrene into the desired function.

Preparation of well‐defined functional polymers possessing diverse chain‐end functionalities by the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and click chemistry.     

Sequential thiol‐ene/thiol‐ene and thiol‐ene/thiol‐yne reactions as a route to well‐defined mono and bis end‐functionalized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)

Sequential thiol‐ene/thiol‐ene and thiol‐ene/thiol‐yne reactions have been used as a facile and quantitative method for modifying end‐groups on an N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) homopolymer. A well‐defined precursor of polyNIPAm (PNIPAm) was prepared via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in DMF at 70 °C using the 1‐cyano‐1‐methylethyl dithiobenzoate/2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionitrile) chain transfer agent/initiator combination yielding a homopolymer with an absolute molecular weight of 5880 and polydispersity index of 1.18. The dithiobenzoate end‐groups were modified in a one‐pot process via primary amine cleavage followed by phosphine‐mediated nucleophilic thiol‐ene click reactions with either allyl methacrylate or propargyl acrylate yielding ene and yne terminal PNIPAm homopolymers quantitatively. The ene and yne groups were then modified, quantitatively as determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, via radical thiol‐ene and radical thiol‐yne reactions with three representative commercially available thiols yielding the mono and bis end functional NIPAm homopolymers. This is the first time such sequential thiol‐ene/thiol‐ene and thiol‐ene/thiol‐yne reactions have been used in polymer synthesis/end‐group modification. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) were then determined for all PNIPAm homopolymers using a combination of optical measurements and dynamic light scattering. It is shown that the LCST varies depending on the chemical nature of the end‐groups with measured values lying in the range 26–35 °C. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3544–3557, 2009     

Conducting Block Copolymer Nanowires Containing Regioregular Poly(3‐Hexylthiophene) and Polystyrene

Grignard Metathesis polymerization (GRIM) for the synthesis of regioregular poly(3‐alkylthiophenes) proceeds via a “living” chain growth mechanism. Due to the “living” nature of this polymerization regioregular poly(3‐alkylthiophenes) with predetermined molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distributions and desired chain end functionality are now readily available. Allyl terminated poly(3‐hexylthiophene) was successfully used as a precursor for the synthesis of di‐block copolymers containing polystyrene. The addition of “living” poly(styryl)lithium to the allyl terminated regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) generated the di‐block copolymer. Poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐polystyrene was also synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. Integration of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) in di‐block copolymers with polystyrene leads to the formation of nanowire morphology and self‐ordered conducting nanostructured materials.     

Structure of poly(propylene oxide) obtained in the presence of K, K(15-crown-5)2

Potassium isopropoxide and potassium tetraethylene glycoxide vinyl ether as well as small amounts of dipotassium tri- and tetraethylene glycoxides are formed in the initiation step of propylene oxide polymerization by K⁻, K⁺(15-crown-5)₂. Chain transfer reactions occur during the polymerization. Therefore, macromolecules with various starting groups, i.e. with the isopropyl, vinyl, allyl, and propenyl ones, are obtained in the process. The kind of end groups generally depends on the quenching agent used for termination. However, the macromolecules terminated in the chain transfer reactions possess exclusively the hydroxyl end group. The functionality of protonated polymers is equal to about 1.2 as a result of propagation occurring on dipotassium glycoxides.     

Synthesis of telechelics and block copolymers via “living” radical polymerization

Hydroxy‐telechelic poly(methyl methacrylate)s of molecular weights below 5000 were obtained by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate followed by end‐capping with allyl alcohol via atom transfer radical addition (ATRA). As initiators for the ATRP, monofunctional initiators with an additional hydroxy group in the molecule or bifunctional initiators were employed. The successful synthesis of the hydroxy‐telechelic PMMA was proved by determination of their molecular weight using MALDI‐TOF‐MS. The efficiency of the end‐capping reaction was determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy using the allyl N‐(4‐tolyl)carbamate as end‐capping agent. Block copolymers comprising a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block and a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) block were prepared by ATRP using a macroinitiator on the PEO basis. The dormant species of the macroinitiator consists of the phenyl chloroacetate moiety which shows a high rate of initiation. The successful synthesis of the poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) was proved by ¹H NMR spectroscopy; the ratios of EO/MMA repeating units in the feed and the copolymer were nearly equal.