Alkylboranes in Conventional and Controlled Radical Polymerization

Utilizations of alkylboranes reagents in radical polymerization are summarized in this minireview. Alkylboranes act as conventional radical initiators or radical chain-transfer agents in free-radical polymerization and controlled radical polymerization. This review discusses various polymerizations operating through different alkylborane reagents with their accompanying mechanisms. The aim of this minireview is to present the state of art of alkylboranes in radical polymerization and to provide the future aspects of this direction. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 14–19     

原子转移自由基聚合及可控自由基聚合

以作者在原子转移自由基聚合领域的研究成果为主导,结合国内外文献,对近年来出现的颇具影响的可控自由基聚合体系与进行了评述与展望。     

Controlled Radical Polymerization of 2,3‐Epithiopropyl Methacrylate

We report first results on the controlled radical polymerization of 2,3‐epithiopropyl methacrylate (ETMA) also known as thiiran‐2‐ylmethyl methacrylate. Reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) of ETMA was carried out in bulk and in solution, using AIBN as initiator and the chain transfer agents: cyanopropyl dithiobenzoate (CPDB) and cumyl dithiobenzoate (CDB). A linear increase of the number‐average molecular weight and decrease of the polydispersity with monomer conversion were observed using CPDB as transfer agent, indicating a controlled process. Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of ETMA was performed under different reaction conditions using copper bromide complexed by tertiary amine ligands and ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) or 2‐bromopropionitrile (BPN) as initiator. All experiments lead to a crosslinked polymer. Preliminary studies in the absence of initiator showed that the CuBr/ligand complex alone initiates the ring‐opening polymerization of thiirane leading to a poly(propylene sulfide) with pendant methacrylate groups.

     

Light‐Regulated Polymerization under Near‐Infrared/Far‐Red Irradiation Catalyzed by Bacteriochlorophyll a

Photoregulated polymerizations are typically conducted using high‐energy (UV and blue) light, which may lead to undesired side reactions. Furthermore, as the penetration of visible light is rather limited, the range of applications with such wavelengths is likewise limited. We herein report the first living radical polymerization that can be activated and deactivated by irradiation with near‐infrared (NIR) and far‐red light. Bacteriochlorophyll a (Bachl a) was employed as a photoredox catalyst for photoinduced electron transfer/reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (PET‐RAFT) polymerization. Well‐defined polymers were thus synthesized within a few hours under NIR (λ=850 nm) and far‐red (λ=780 nm) irradiation with excellent control over the molecular weight (M_n/M_w<1.25). Taking advantage of the good penetration of NIR light, we showed that the polymerization also proceeded smoothly when a translucent barrier was placed between light source and reaction vessel.     

乳液体系中“活性”/控制自由基聚合研究进展

"活性"/控制自由基聚合(CRP)可用于合成具有精确结构和窄分子量分布的聚合物.乳液聚合具有环保、经济、易控的优点,但乳液体系为多相体系,控制试剂的相间分配和迁移较均相系统复杂,这使乳液"活性"/控制自由基聚合面临一些挑战,诸如控制聚合特征差、乳液稳定性下降等.本文介绍了近年来乳液体系中的原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)和可逆加成-断裂链转移聚合(RAFT)的研究进展,包括体系的特性、面临的挑战、解决的方法,以及工程与商业运用的前景和需要解决的问题.     

Plasma‐Initiated Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate in the Presence of 2‐Cyanoprop‐2‐yl 1‐dithionaphthalate (CPDN)

Summary: Plasma‐initiated controlled/living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out in the presence of 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl 1‐dithionaphthalate. Well‐defined poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), with a narrow polydispersity, could be synthesized. The polymerization is proposed to occur via a RAFT mechanism. Chain‐extension reactions were also successfully carried out to obtain higher molecular weight PMMA and PMMA‐block‐PSt copolymer.

Dependence of ln([M]₀/[M]) on post‐polymerization time (above), and \overline M _{\rm n} and PDI against conversion (below) for plasma initiated RAFT polymerization of MMA at 25 °C.     

可控自由基聚合系列实验教学中的一些尝试与经验*

设计了基于可控自由基聚合的系列实验教学,包括:单体和引发剂精制、RAFT试剂合成、不同单体的RAFT/ATRP聚合、RAFT聚合制备嵌段聚合物、ATRP制备嵌段聚合物等。这些实验环环相扣,互相支撑,又有着明显的对比效果。这种尝试有效改进和扩充了常规高分子合成教学中的自由基聚合部分,有效激发了学生的主动性,提高了其分析问题、解决问题的能力。     

Controlled Bimodal Molecular‐Weight‐Distribution Polymers: Facile Synthesis by RAFT Polymerization

The RAFT agents RAFT‐1 and RAFT‐2 were used for RAFT polymerization to synthesize well‐defined bimodal molecular‐weight‐distribution (MWD) polymers. The system showed excellent controllability and “living” characteristics toward both the higher‐ and lower‐molecular‐weight fractions. It is important that bimodal higher‐molecular‐weight (HMW) polymers and block copolymers with both well‐controlled molecular weight (MW) and MWD could be prepared easily due to the “living” features of RAFT polymerization. The strategy realized a mixture of higher/lower‐molecular‐weight polymers at the molecular level but also preserved the features of living radical polymerization (LRP) of the RAFT polymerization.     

丙烯腈可控/"活性"自由基聚合研究进展

可控/"活性"自由基聚合能有效控制聚合物的分子量及其分布,并且能调控其微观拓扑结构。聚丙烯腈及其共聚物具有良好的成纤成膜性能,是一类应用十分广泛的聚合物。本文综述了可控/"活性"自由基聚合法合成聚丙烯腈及其共聚物的研究现状与进展,从氮氧自由基法(NMP)、引发转移终止剂法(iniferter)、原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)和可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)聚合等方面对丙烯腈均聚物和共聚物的合成研究作了全面的总结,提出了存在的问题,并且对今后的研究方向作了展望。     

Polymer Brushes via Controlled,Surface‐Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) from Graphene Oxide

A method for growing polymers directly from the surface of graphene oxide is demonstrated. The technique involves the covalent attachment of an initiator followed by the polymerization of styrene, methyl methacrylate, or butyl acrylate using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The resulting materials were characterized using a range of techniques and were found to significantly improve the solubility properties of graphene oxide. The surface‐grown polymers were saponified from the surface and also characterized. Based on these results, the ATRP reactions were determined to proceed in a controlled manner and were found to leave the structure of the graphene oxide largely intact.

     

Controlled Radical Polymerization of N-Vinylpyrrolidone by Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Process

Summary: Poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP) was polymerized by RAFT process using diphenyldithiocarbamate of diethylmalonate (DPCM) as the reversible chain transfer agent in the presence of a small percentage of a conventional radical initiator (AIBN). The molar mass of the polymers synthesized by this method was found to increase with conversion and time. The presence of end group in the polymer chain could be confirmed by ¹H NMR spectra. The molar masses calculated using ¹H NMR spectroscopy and static light scattering (SLS) showed good agreement with the theoretical molar masses. The RAFT compound was fully consumed during the initial stages of the polymerization itself. The controlled nature of these polymers was further confirmed by generating diblock copolymers by sequential addition of monomers such as styrene or n-butyl acrylate (n-BA). PNVP efficiently participated as a macro-RAFT reagent, and cross-over reaction between the two blocks efficiently occurred. The successful diblock copolymer synthesis using PNVP as macro-transfer reagent further confirms the “controlled” nature of such synthetic procedure.     

活性开环聚合与可控自由基聚合机理转换合成精细结构共聚物*

可控自由基聚合和活性开环聚合可以通过机理转换有效结合, 制备出多种结构新颖的共聚物, 因此得到广泛关注. 本文主要综述三种常见的可控自由基聚合, 即原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP), 可逆加成-断裂链转移聚合(RAFT)和稳定自由基聚合(SFRP)与活性开环聚合之间进行机理转换, 进而制备精细结构共聚物的研究进展     

An Oxygen‐Tolerant PET‐RAFT Polymerization for Screening Structure–Activity Relationships

The complexity of polymer–protein interactions makes rational design of the best polymer architecture for any given biointerface extremely challenging, and the high throughput synthesis and screening of polymers has emerged as an attractive alternative. A porphyrin‐catalysed photoinduced electron/energy transfer–reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (PET‐RAFT) polymerisation was adapted to enable high throughput synthesis of complex polymer architectures in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on low‐volume well plates in the presence of air. The polymerisation system shows remarkable oxygen tolerance, and excellent control of functional 3‐ and 4‐arm star polymers. We then apply this method to investigate the effect of polymer structure on protein binding, in this case to the lectin concanavalin A (ConA). Such an approach could be applied to screen the structure–activity relationships for any number of polymer–protein interactions.     

“活性”/控制自由基聚合的研究进展

本文对“活性” 控制自由基聚合的研究进展做了综述, 并讨论了其主要聚合引发体系的应用现状和前景。     

A New Sterically Highly Hindered 7‐Membered Cyclic Nitroxide for the Controlled Living Radical Polymerization

The synthesis of a new sterically highly hindered 7‐membered alkoxyamine, 2,2,7,7‐tetraethyl‐1‐(1‐phenylethoxy)‐1,4‐diazepan‐5‐one ( 4 ), starting from known 2,2,6,6‐tetraethyl‐1‐(1‐phenylethoxy)piperidin‐4‐one ( 3 ) via a Beckmann‐type rearrangement is presented. It is shown that ring‐enlargement by insertion of an NH moiety in going from 3 to 4 leads to a more efficient regulator for nitroxide‐mediated controlled living radical styrene (= ethenylbenzene) and butyl acrylate (= butyl prop‐2‐enoate) polymerization. In addition to the polymerization experiments, kinetic data on the reversible C? O bond homolysis of alkoxyamines 3 and 4 are presented.     

Polymer‐Grafted Carbon Spheres by Surface‐Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Summary: In situ atom transfer radical polymerization techniques have been used to produce polymer‐grafted carbon spheres (CSs). The surfaces of as‐prepared CSs were functionalized in the presence of CS‐supported macroinitiators. The resulting materials were characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, TGA, SEM, TEM, and HRTEM. The amount of polymer grafted onto the surfaces of the spheres can be controlled by varying the monomer/initiator feed ratio. The wetting ability and dispersibility of the polymer‐grafted CSs were improved significantly, compared with crude CSs, enabling stable dispersions in organic solvents to be produced. SEM and TEM studies indicate that a uniform distribution of the carbon spheres in the continuous polymer phase can be produced.

SEM image (left) of poly(glycerol monomethacrylate) grafted carbon spheres, inset shows the structure. HRTEM image (right) of a polystyrene grafted carbon sphere, inset is the SAED pattern.     

Integration of CuAAC Polymerization and Controlled Radical Polymerization into Electron Transfer Mediated “Click‐Radical” Concurrent Polymerization

The successful chain‐growth copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) polymerization employing Cu(0)/pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) and alkyl halide as catalyst is first investigated by a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance, gel‐permeation chromatography, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. In addition, the electron transfer mediated “click‐radical” concurrent polymerization utilizing Cu(0)/PMDETA as catalyst is successfully employed to generate well‐defined copolymers, where controlled CuAAC polymerization of clickable ester monomer is progressed in the main chain acting as the polymer backbone, the controlled radical polymerization (CRP) of acrylic monomer is carried out in the side chain. Furthermore, it is found that there is strong collaborative effect and compatibility between CRP and CuAAC polymerization to improve the controllability.

     

Block Copolymer PEO‐b‐PHPMA Synthesis Using Controlled Radical Polymerization on a Chip

Summary: Block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide‐block‐2‐hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PEO‐b‐PHPMA) with a range of molecular masses of the PHPMA block were obtained by controlled radical polymerization on a chip (CRP chip) using a PEO macroinitiator. A series of well‐controlled polymerizations were carried out at different pumping rates or reaction times with a constant ratio of monomer to initiator. The stoichiometry of the reactants was also adjusted by varying relative flow rates to change the reactant concentrations.

A schematic of a CRP chip and SEC traces of the PEO‐b‐PHPMA produced from different pump rates with a 1:100 ratio of initiator to monomer. The dashed peaks are the macroinitiator, PEO‐Br (left), and monomer, HPMA (right).     

环境友好的可控自由基聚合*

近年来,我们以环境友好、简便快捷、活泼可控、单体普适性强的光活化室温RAFT聚合为主攻目标,针对长波紫外或可见光活化室温RAFT聚合反应特征及其应用展开了深入探讨。研究表明,作为RAFT聚合链转移剂的硫酯化合物具有分别在紫外光和可见光波段的双波段光吸收特征。短波紫外光强吸收,导致硫酯键的光解。然而,可见光波段弱的光吸收则活化其自由基加成产物的断裂反应,加速室温RAFT过程并确保聚合反应的活性特征。高效光引发,可显著缩短RAFT聚合引发期。通过光开关,可实时启动或终止聚合。与常规热聚合不同,室温以下这类聚合反应不存在明显的热活化效应。由此,我们创建了环境友好、单体普适性强、快速可控、通过光开关可实时控制聚合反应启动或终止的光活化室温RAFT聚合,将其成功拓展到太阳光和水溶液聚合体系,并运用于温和条件下新兴水溶性温敏高分子、仿生光响应高分子的快捷可控合成。     

Laser Single Pulse Initiated RAFT Polymerization for Assessing Chain‐Length Dependent Radical Termination Kinetics

Summary: A novel method combining RAFT polymerization with pulsed‐laser initiation for determining chain‐length dependent termination rate coefficients, k_t, is presented. Degenerative chain‐transfer in RAFT enables single‐pulse pulsed‐laser polymerization (SP‐PLP) traces to be measured on systems with a narrow radical distribution that remains essentially unchanged during the experiment. SP‐PLP‐RAFT experiments at different polymerization times allow for determining k_t as a function of chain length via classical kinetics assuming chain‐length independent k_t.

Single‐pulse pulsed‐laser polymerization trace for BMPT‐mediated RAFT polymerization of butyl acrylate.