RAFT链转移剂的选用原则及通用型RAFT链转移剂

可逆加成-断裂链转移聚合(RAFT Polymerization)是目前最为常用的活性可控自由基聚合方法之一,因其产物分子量分布较窄、适用单体范围广、反应条件温和等优势得到了不同领域科学家的广泛应用。然而,科学家们在选择RAFT链转移剂(也称RAFT试剂)时,经常会忽略RAFT链转移剂与单体活性的匹配原则,导致在制备高活单体与低活单体的嵌段共聚物方面存在产物分子量分布宽、聚合速率慢,甚至反应无法成功进行的问题。基于此,本文首先综述聚合中RAFT链转移剂的选用原则,随后介绍近几年开发的一类同时适用于高/低活性单体聚合的通用型RAFT链转移剂(Universal/Switchable RAFT agent)的作用原理及适用条件,并着重探讨了基于通用型RAFT链转移剂制备高/低活性单体的嵌段共聚物的最新进展及应用。     

RAFT聚合在聚合物分子结构设计中的应用

可逆加成-断裂链转移(reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer,RAFT)聚合是一种新型的活性/可控自由基聚合方法,在制备窄分子量聚合物和设计聚合物分子结构方面具有独特的优势。本文首先介绍RAFT活性自由基聚合的机理、体系、特点及链转移(RAFT)试剂的选择,然后总结了近年来国内外利用RAFT聚合技术在设计无规和交替共聚物方面的应用,详细介绍了该方法在制备特殊结构共聚物,如嵌段、梯度、接枝、星形、树形和梳形结构聚合物的新应用,并对RAFT聚合技术在今后的研究重点和应用前景做了展望。     

可逆加成—断裂链转移自由基聚合在制备水溶性聚合物中的应用

水溶性聚合物在工业、农业、医药等领域都有着广泛用途,但随着近年对水溶性聚合物精细化的要求,寻找新的结构可控的聚合方法已成为迫切需求.由于可逆加成-断裂链转移(RAFT)自由基聚合具有适用单体范围广、反应条件温和、不受聚合方法的限制等优点,以及可控制聚合物的嵌段、接枝、梳型、星型、无规及梯度等结构,成为合成结构可控的水溶性聚合物的最有效手段之一.本文主要讨论了单体、引发剂、链转移剂、溶剂等组成对RAFT聚合反应的影响,并介绍了利用RAFT方法制备非离子、阴离子、阳离子及两性离子水溶性聚合物的实例.     

一种具备巯基点击化学功能的二硫代酯RAFT链转移剂的合成

以2,2-二硫二吡啶,2-巯基乙醇为原料,醋酸为催化剂,合成了2-羟乙基-二硫吡啶(PⅠ)。以PⅠ、4-氰基-4-(硫代苯甲酰)戊酸(PⅡ)为原料,1-(3-二甲氨基丙基)-3-乙基碳二亚胺盐酸盐(EDC)、4-二甲氨基吡啶(DMAP)为催化剂,合成了一种新的可逆加成-断裂链转移自由基聚合(RAFT)链转移剂4-氰基-4-(硫代苯甲酰)戊酸-2-二硫吡啶乙酯(PⅢ)。以PⅢ为RAFT链转移剂,偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)为引发剂,甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)为单体,采用RAFT制备了聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)。用1 H-NMR分析了链转移剂的的分子结构,用GPC测得PMMA聚合物的分子量及其分布。结果表明:能用于巯基点击化学的二硫吡啶基团被接到PⅡ的末端,成功制备了一种具备巯基点击化学功能的二硫代酯RAFT链转移剂(PⅢ),利用PⅢ,通过RAFT聚合制备了分子量分布狭窄的PMMA聚合物。     

可逆加成-断裂链转移自由基聚合研究进展

RAFT(Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer,可逆加成-断裂链转移)自由基存在链增长自由基与链转移剂(RAFT试剂)之间的可逆蜕化转移,现已广泛应用于聚合物分子结构设计及众多功能高分子材料的合成,受到众多高分子研究者的关注,是一种发展较快的可控/活性聚合技术.本文在简要介绍了RAFT聚合发展历程基础上,综述了RAFT聚合反应机理,RAFT试剂的结构及其对聚合性能的影响,RAFT试剂与单体的匹配性,RAFT聚合实施方法等.同时也对RAFT聚合反应的发展进行了展望.     

Mn-Re双核金属化合物调控的苯乙烯的类RAFT聚合反应研究

报道了以Mn-Re双核金属有机化合物作为RAFT聚合中链转移试剂的稳定基团进行的苯乙烯的本体聚合。聚合物的数均分子量明显随转化率线性增长,并且聚合物的多分散系数PDI值小于1·5。据此推断,苯乙烯本体聚合反应可能是以类似于可逆加成-断裂链转移自由基聚合(RAFT)的机理进行的。     

用ATRP法和RAFT法制备线形嵌段共聚物

嵌段共聚物是将不同性质的聚合物连接在同一分子内，表现出特殊的性质，受到高分子科学家及工业部门的广泛关注。本文简要介绍了嵌段共聚物的结构、性能以及可能的应用。它有多种制备方法，这里着重介绍近年来通过原子转移自由基聚合(ATRP)和可逆加成-裂解链转移(RAFT)法制备嵌段共聚物的研究现状和进展情况。对于加料顺序、大分子引发剂末端基团、单体的反应活性以及大分子引发剂的引发效率、配体种类、大分子链转移剂的链转移常数等对嵌段共聚反应的影响也进行了讨论。     

单体组成对甲基丙烯酸甲酯/丙烯酸丁酯RAFT共聚合转移常数的影响

采用Z基团为—CH2C6H5的RAFT试剂为链转移剂,AIBN为引发剂,60℃下进行甲基丙烯酸甲酯/丙烯酸丁酯(MMA/BA)的本体RAFT共聚合,并用GPC法测算不同单体组成下低聚物RAFT的链转移常数(Ctr).实验表明,对BA的均聚合,Ctr高达116,但对MMA的均聚合,Ctr约为0.1.在共聚体系中,Ctr与fMMA之间为非线性关系,随着fMMA的增加呈下降趋势.Ctr随单体组成的变化规律可以很好地解释不同单体组成下RAFT共聚合中分子量及其分布随转化率变化的规律.     

端基功能化聚烯烃的合成与应用

端基功能化聚烯烃（Cef-PO）在聚烯烃改性和构筑复杂结构聚合物方面有着重要应用。可通过控制烯烃配位聚合过程中的自发链转移反应,得到端基不饱和聚烯烃;或通过引入硼烷、磷烷、苯乙烯及其衍生物/氢气等链转移剂得到不同反应性基团封端的聚烯烃;再经进一步基团转化反应,得到多种不同性能的Cef-PO。另外,活性配位聚合过程中,通过对活性增长聚烯烃链选择性封端处理,或使用功能化的催化剂,也可以用来制备Cef-PO。通过配位链转移聚合,即聚烯烃链在催化剂金属中心和烷基金属链转移剂之间快速可逆链转移的聚合过程,可以直接得到具有高度反应活性的碳-金属键封端的聚烯烃,经化学转化得到Cef-PO。此外,叶立德活性聚合、共轭二烯烃的阴离子活性聚合和环烯烃的开环易位聚合也可以用来制备Cef-PO。向其他聚合方式（活性自由基聚合、活性阴离子聚合等）的转换及与点击化学的结合是Cef-PO应用的明显特点。Cef-PO的应用包括作为聚合物的改性剂以及用于合成具有复杂结构的聚合物。     

可逆加成-断裂链转移活性自由基聚合

介绍了可逆加成-断裂链转移(Reversible addition-fragmentation chain tansfer,RAFT)活性自由基聚合的反应机理、聚合动力学和特点，对RAFT试剂的选择和制备作了简要介绍，并综述了RAFT聚合的发展动态及应用状况。     

RAFT-mediated emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate: a challenge towards producing high molecular weight poly(vinyl acetate)

The preparation of poly(vinyl acetate) with well-controlled structure has received a great deal of interest in recent years because of a large number of developments in living radical polymerization techniques. Among these techniques, the use of reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated polymerization has been employed for the controlled polymerization of vinyl acetate due to the high susceptibility of this monomer towards chain transfer reactions. Here, a novel water-soluble N,N-dialkyl dithiocarbamate RAFT agent has been prepared and employed in the emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate. The kinetic results reveal that the polymerization nucleation mechanism changes from homogeneous to micellar and RAFT-generated radicals can change the kinetic behavior from conventional emulsion polymerization to living radical polymerization. At higher concentrations of the modified RAFT agent, as a result of an aqueous phase reaction between RAFT and sulfate radicals, relatively more hydrophobic radicals are generated, which favors entry and propagation into micelles swollen with monomer. This observation was determined from the investigation of the polymerization rate and measurements of the average particle diameter and the number of particles per liter of the aqueous phase. Molecular weight analysis also demonstrated the participation of the RAFT agent in the polymerization in such a way as to restrict chain transfer reactions. This was determined by examining the evolution of polymer chain length and attaining higher molecular weights, even up to 50?% greater than the samples obtained from the conventional emulsion polymerization of vinyl acetate in the absence of the synthesized modified RAFT agent.     

Efficient Synthesis of Poly(acrylic acid) in Aqueous Solution via a RAFT Process

The direct polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in aqueous solution for high molecular weight by means of living radical polymerization is still difficult. Here, AA was polymerized homogeneously in water by a reversible addition-fragmentation transfer polymerization (RAFT) in the presence of a water-soluble trithiocarbonate as a RAFT agent. Various ratios [AA]:[RAFT agent] were investigated to aim at different molecular weights. The polymerization exhibited living free-radical polymerization characteristics at different ratios [AA]: [RAFT agent]: controlled molecular weight, low polydispersity and well-suited linear growth of the number-average molecular weight, M _n with conversion. The chain transfer to solvent or polymer was suppressed during the polymerization process, thus high linear PAA with high molecular weight and low PDI can be obtained. Moreover, using the generated PAA as a macro RAFT agent, the chain extension polymerization of PAA with fresh AA displayed controlled behavior, demonstrated the ability of PAA to reinitiate sequential polymerization.     

Grafting of molecularly imprinted polymers from the surface of silica gel particles via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization: A selective sorbent for theophylline

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were grafted successfully from the surface of silica gel particles via surface initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using RAFT agent functionalized silica gel as the chain transfer agent. The intrinsic characteristics of the controlled/living polymerization mechanism of RAFT allowed for the effective control of the grafting process. Thus the grafting copolymerization of methacrylic acid and divinyl benzene in the presence of template theophylline led to thin MIP film coating silica gel (MIP-Silica). The thickness of MIP film prepared in this study is about 1.98 nm, which was calculated from the nitrogen sorption analysis results. Measured binding kinetics for theophylline to the MIP-Silica and MIPs prepared by conventional bulk polymerization demonstrated that MIP-Silica had improved mass-transfer properties. In addition, the theophylline-imprinted MIP-Silica was used as the sorbent in solid-phase extraction to determine theophylline in blood serum with satisfactory recovery higher than 90%. Nonspecific adsorption of interfering compounds can be eliminated by a simple elution with acetonitrile, without sacrificing the selective binding of theophylline.     

Dendrimer‐star polymer and block copolymer prepared by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization with dendritic chain transfer agent

A new reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, dendritic polyester with 16 dithiobenzoate terminal groups, was prepared and used in the RAFT polymerization of styrene (St) to produce star polystyrene (PSt) with a dendrimer core. It was found that this polymerization was of living characters, the molecular weight of the dendrimer‐star polymers could be controlled and the polydispersities were narrow. The dendrimer‐star block copolymers of St and methyl acrylate (MA) were also prepared by the successive RAFT polymerization using the dendrimer‐star PSt as macro chain transfer agent. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6379–6393, 2005     

Effect of rate retardation in RAFT grafting polymerization from silicon wafer surface

Polystyrene and poly(butyl acrylate) were grafted from silicon wafer surface by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Three RAFT agents were immobilized onto silicon wafer through their leaving/initiating groups (R group). Grafting polymerization of butyl acrylate (BA) and styrene (St) was then carried out from the immobilized RAFT agents. The immobilization of the RAFT agents and the subsequent grafting polymerization of St and BA were evaluated by ellipsometry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that type of monomer, structure of RAFT agent, and local RAFT concentration on the surface have dramatic influences on the thickness of grafted polymer layer. The grafting polymerization with more severe rate retardation effect yielded thinner polymer films on the silicon wafer. Selection of a RAFT agent with little rate retardation was critical in the grafting polymerization to achieve thick films. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 970–978, 2008     

RAFT试剂N-咔唑二硫代甲酸1,4-对二甲基苯双酯的合成及应用

以咔唑和对二氯甲基苯为原料, 合成了以咔唑为Z基团的双功能团RAFT聚合链转移试剂N-咔唑二硫代甲酸1,4-对二甲基苯双酯(PXCBD). 以PXCBD为链转移试剂, 以苯乙烯、丙烯酸甲酯及N,N-二丁基丙烯酰胺为单体, 考察了PXCBD在RAFT聚合中合成多嵌段共聚物上的应用, 并研究了PXCBD及由其合成的聚合物的荧光特性. 研究结果表明, PXCBD是一种性能优异的双功能团RAFT聚合链转移试剂, 可用于合成特殊结构并且带有荧光标识的功能高分子材料.     

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。     

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization in microemulsion

This tutorial review first details the uncontrolled microemulsion polymerization mechanism, and the RAFT polymerization mechanism to provide the necessary background for examining the RAFT microemulsion polymerization mechanism. The effect of the chain transfer agent per micelle ratio and the chain transfer agent aqueous solubility on the RAFT microemulsion polymerization kinetics, polymer molecular weight and polydispersity, and polymer nanoparticle size are discussed with a focus on oil-in-water microemulsions. Modeling of RAFT microemulsion polymerization kinetics and the resulting final polymer molecular weight are presented to assist with the analysis of observed experimental trends. Lastly, the current significance of RAFT microemulsion polymerization and the future directions are discussed.     

Accelerated brush growth on nanoparticle surfaces by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

It is now well established that controlling the grafted chain lengths and densities on nanoparticle surfaces determines the effective interactions between particles, and their assembly. Here, we present unusual kinetic results for achieving grafted chain lengths longer than the free chains using reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and discuss the limitations to obtaining polymer grafting density higher than ～0.06 chains/nm². We observe that surface initiated polymerization grows faster than the free chains in solution with high RAFT agent coverage (1.95 agents/nm²) on nanoparticles. The time‐dependence of graft density suggests that activation of the anchored chain transfer agent (CTA) is limited by the diffusion of macro‐radicals within growing grafts. Thus, radical transfer and exchange reactions become inefficient between grafts and free polymer, and convert the surface‐initiated RAFT mechanism to a free radical polymerization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1700–1705     

Well‐controlled RAFT polymerization initiated by recyclable surface‐modified Nb(OH)5 nanoparticles under visible light irradiation

A recyclable solid‐state photoinitiator based on the surface modified niobium hydroxide is prepared and successfully introduces into reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization under visible light illumination. It is revealed by gel permeation chromatography analysis that well‐defined polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity index can be achieved when the feed ratio of photoinitiator to the RAFT agent was controlled properly. It is also found that the polymerization is highly responsive to external stimulus and when light is removed from the system polymerization stops almost immediately. In addition, the photoinitiator can be recycled and reused to initiate the polymerization for many times without significant decrease of initiation efficiency. At last, the mechanism for the light initiated polymerization is proposed to illuminate how the initiation and chain propagation proceed. This facile, green and visible light initiation methodology could attract more and more applications in polymer science with the depletion of fossil energy. A recyclable solid‐state photoinitiator based on the surface modified niobium hydroxide was prepared and successfully introduced into reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization under visible light illumination. It is revealed that well‐defined polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity index (PDI) can be achieved when the feed ratio of photoinitiator to the RAFT agent was controlled properly. It is also found that the polymerization is highly responsive to light initiation. In addition, the photoinitiator can be recycled and reused to initiate the polymerization for many times without significant decrease of initiation efficiency. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2715–2724