Perfluorocyclobutyl-containing Amphiphilic Block Copolymers Synthesized by RAFT Polymerization

Amphiphilic block copolymers containing hydrophobic perfluorocyclobutyl‐based (PFCB) polyacrylate and hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) segments were prepared via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The PFCB‐containing acrylate monomer, p‐(2‐(p‐tolyloxy)perfluorocyclobutoxy)‐phenyl acrylate, was first synthesized from commercially available compounds in good yields, and this kind of acrylate monomer can be homopolymerized by free radical polymerization or RAFT polymerization. Kinetic study showed the 2,2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) initiated and cumyl dithiobenzoate (CDB) mediated RAFT polymerization was in a living fashion, as suggested by the fact that the number‐average molecular weights (M_n) increased linearly with the conversions of the monomer, while the polydispersity indices kept less than 1.10. The block polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n≦1.21) were prepared through RAFT polymerization using PEG monomethyl ether capped with 4‐cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate end group as the macro chain transfer agent (mPEG‐CTA). The length of the hydrophobic segment can be tuned by the feed ratio of the PFCB‐based acrylate monomer and the extending of the polymerization time. The micellization behavior of the block copolymers in aqueous media was investigated by the fluorescence probe technique.     

Novel synthesis of biodegradable poly(lactide-co-ethylene glycol) block copolymers

Biodegradable and amphiphilic diblock copolymers [polylactide-block-poly(ethylene glycol)] and triblock copolymers [polylactide-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polylactide] were synthesized by the anionic ring-opening polymerization of lactides in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether or poly(ethylene glycol) and potassium hexamethyldisilazide as a catalyst. The polymerization in toluene at room temperature was very fast, yielding copolymers of controlled molecular weights and tailored molecular architectures. The chemical structure of the copolymers was investigated with ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The formation of block copolymers was confirmed by ¹³C NMR and differential scanning calorimetry investigations. The monomodal profile of the molecular weight distribution by gel permeation chromatography provided further evidence of block copolymer formation as well as the absence of cyclic species. Additional confirmation of the block copolymers was obtained by the substitution of 2-butanol for poly(ethylene glycol); butyl groups were clearly identified by ¹H NMR as polymer chain end groups. The effects of the copolymer composition and lactide stereochemistry on the copolymer properties were examined. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2235–2245, 2007     

Synthesis of tertiary amine‐based pH‐responsive polymers by RAFT Polymerization

Well‐defined tertiary amine‐based pH‐responsive homopolymers and block copolymers were synthesized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using 4‐cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate (CPAD) as the RAFT agent for homopolymers and a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macro‐RAFT agent for the block copolymers. ¹H NMR and gel permeation chromatography results confirmed the successful synthesis of these homopolymers and block copolymers. Kinetics studies indicated that the formation of both the homopolymers and the block copolymers were well defined. The pKa titration experiments suggested that the homopolymers and the related block copolymers have a similar pKa. The dynamic light scattering investigation showed that all of the block copolymers underwent a sharp transition from unimers to micelles around their pKa and the hydrodynamic diameter (D_h) was not only dependent on the molecular weight but also on the composition of the block copolymers. The polymer solution of PEG‐b‐PPPDEMA formed the largest micelle compare to the PEG‐b‐PDPAEMA and PEG‐b‐PDBAEMA with a similar molecular weight. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1010–1022     

RAFT synthesis of a water‐soluble triblock copolymer of poly(styrenesulfonate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(styrenesulfonate) using a macromolecular chain transfer agent in aqueous solution

Triblock copolymers of poly(styrenesulfonate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(styrenesulfonate) with narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.28–1.40) and well‐defined structure have been synthesized in aqueous solution at 70 °C via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) capped with 4‐cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate end groups was used as the macro chain transfer agent (PEG macro‐CTA) for sole monomer sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate. The reaction was controllable and displayed living polymerization characteristics and the triblock copolymer had designed molecular weight. The reaction rate depended strongly on the CTA and initiator concentration ratio [CTA]₀/[ACPA]₀: an increase in [CTA]₀/[ACPA]₀ from 1.0 to 5.0 slowed down the polymerization rate and improved the molecular weight distribution with a prolonged induction time. The polymerization proceeded, following first‐order kinetics when [CTA]₀/[ACPA]₀ = 2.5 and 5.0. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3698–3706, 2007     

Preparation of polyethylene block copolymers by a combination of postmetallocene catalysis of ethylene polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

The synthesis of block copolymers consisting of a polyethylene segment and either a poly(meth)acrylate or polystyrene segment was accomplished through the combination of postmetallocene-mediated ethylene polymerization and subsequent atom transfer radical polymerization. A vinyl-terminated polyethylene (number-average molecular weight = 1800, weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight =1.70) was synthesized by the polymerization of ethylene with a phenoxyimine zirconium complex as a catalyst activated with methylalumoxane (MAO). This polyethylene was efficiently converted into an atom transfer radical polymerization macroinitiator by the addition of α-bromoisobutyric acid to the vinyl chain end, and the polyethylene macroinitiator was used for the atom transfer radical polymerization of n-butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, or styrene; this resulted in defined polyethylene-b-poly(n-butyl acrylate), polyethylene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate), and polyethylene-b-polystyrene block copolymers. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 496–504, 2004     

Novel synthesis of biodegradable amphiphilic linear and star block copolymers based on poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol)

Biodegradable, amphiphilic, diblock poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL‐b‐PEG), triblock poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL‐b‐PEG‐b‐PCL), and star shaped copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether or poly(ethylene glycol) or star poly(ethylene glycol) and potassium hexamethyldisilazide as a catalyst. Polymerizations were carried out in toluene at room temperature to yield monomodal polymers of controlled molecular weight. The chemical structure of the copolymers was investigated by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The formation of block copolymers was confirmed by ¹³C NMR and DSC investigations. The effects of copolymer composition and molecular structure on the physical properties were investigated by GPC and DSC. For the same PCL chain length, the materials obtained in the case of linear copolymers are viscous whereas in the case of star copolymer solid materials are obtained with low T_g and T_m temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3975–3985, 2007     

Preparation of end‐π‐allylnickel macroinitiator from poly(ethylene glycol) allenyl methyl ether and its application to the living coordination polymerization of isonitriles

An end‐π‐allylnickel macroinitiator ( 3 ) was prepared by the reaction of poly(ethylene glycol) allenyl methyl ether with an excess amount (5 equiv) of [(π‐allyl)NiOCOCF₃]₂ ( 1 ) in the presence of PPh₃ ([PPh₃]/[ 1 ] = 1). The resulting macroinitiator was used as an initiator for the polymerization of 1‐phenylethyl isonitrile ( 4a ) to give a block copolymer [poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly( 4a )]. The molecular weight and composition of the block copolymers were controlled by the molecular weight of 3 and the ratio of 4a to 3 . © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 495–499, 2001     

Synthesis of hydrophilic/CO2‐philic poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(1,1,2,2‐tetrahydroperfluorodecyl acrylate) block copolymers via controlled/living radical polymerizations and their properties in liquid and supercritical CO2

Hydrophilic/CO₂‐philic poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(1,1,2,2‐tetrahydroperfluorodecyl acrylate) block copolymers were synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, iodine transfer polymerization (ITP), and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in the presence of either degenerative transfer agents or a macroinitiator based on poly(ethylene oxide). In this work, both RAFT and ATRP showed higher efficiency than ITP for the preparation of the expected copolymers. More detailed research was carried out on RAFT, and the living character of the polymerization was confirmed by an ultraviolet (UV) analysis of the ? SC(S)Ph or ? SC(S)S? C₁₂H₂₅ end groups in the polymer chains. The quantitative UV analysis of the copolymers indicated a number‐average molecular weight in good agreement with the value determined by ¹H NMR analysis. The properties of the macromolecular surfactants were investigated through the determination of the cloud points in neat liquid and supercritical CO₂ and through the formation of water‐in‐CO₂ emulsions. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2405–2415, 2004     

Room‐temperature RAFT copolymerization of 2‐chloroallyl azide with methyl acrylate and versatile applications of the azide copolymers

A new vinyl azide monomer, 2‐chlorallyl azide (CAA), has been synthesized from commercially available reagent in one step. The reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization of CAA with methyl acrylate (MA) was carried out at room temperature using a redox initiator, benzoyl peroxide (BPO)/N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA), in the presence of benzyl 1H‐imidazole‐1‐carbodithioate (BICDT). The polymerization results showed that the process bears the characteristics of controlled/living radical polymerizations, such as the molecular weight increasing linearly with the monomer conversion, the molecular weight distribution being narrow, and a linear relationship existing between ln([M]₀/[M]) and the polymerization time. Chain extension polymerization was performed successfully to prepare block copolymer. Furthermore, the azide copolymers were functionalized by Cu^I‐catalyzed “click” reaction with alkyne‐containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to yield graft copolymers with hydrophilic PEG side chains. Surface modification of the glass sheet was successfully achieved via the crosslinking reaction of the azide copolymer under UV irradiation at ambient temperature. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1348–1356, 2010     

Novel synthesis of biodegradable star poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(lactide) copolymers

Biodegradable star‐shaped poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(lactide) copolymers were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization of lactide, using star poly(ethylene glycol) as an initiator and potassium hexamethyldisilazide as a catalyst. Polymerizations were carried out in toluene at room temperature. Two series of three‐ and four‐armed PEG‐PLA copolymers were synthesized and characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) as well as ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The polymerization under the used conditions is very fast, yielding copolymers of controlled molecular weight and tailored molecular architecture. The chemical structure of the copolymers investigated by ¹H and ¹³C NMR indicates the formation of block copolymers. The monomodal profile of molecular weight distribution by GPC provided further evidence of controlled and defined star‐shaped copolymers as well as the absence of cyclic oligomeric species. The effects of copolymer composition and lactide stereochemistry on the physical properties were investigated by GPC and differential scanning calorimetry. For the same PLA chain length, the materials obtained in the case of linear copolymers are more viscous, whereas in the case of star copolymer, solid materials are obtained with reduction in their T_g and T_m temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3966–3974, 2007     

Thermosensitive behavior of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) double hydrophilic block copolymers

The poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(2‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PEG/PDMAEMA) double hydrophilic block copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization using mPEG‐Br or Br‐PEG‐Br as macroinitiators. The narrow molecular weight distribution of PEG/PDMAEMA block copolymers was identified by gel permeation chromatography results. The thermosensitivity of PEG/PDMAEMA block copolymers in aqueous solution was revealed to depend significantly on pH, ionic strength, chain structure, and concentration of the block copolymers. By optimizing these factors, the cloud point temperature of PEG/PDMAEMA block copolymers can be limited within body temperature range (30–37 °C), which suggests that PEG/PDMAEMA block copolymers could be a good candidate for drug delivery systems. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 503–508, 2010     

Synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers by a redox process and their spectral characterization

Novel block copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with acrylamide (AAm) and methacrylic acid (MAA) were synthesized using a redox system consisting of ceric ions and PEG in aqueous acidic medium. The molecular weight of PEG in the redox system was varied to obtain a series of block copolymers with differing molecular weights of PEG segment. The polymerization proceeded via macroradical generation, which was substantiated by ESR spectroscopy. This macroradical acted as a redox macroinitiator for the block copolymerization of the vinyl monomers. The formation of the block copolymers was confirmed by fractional precipitation technique.     

Synthesis of new amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(α‐olefin)

This article discusses an effective route to prepare amphiphilic diblock copolymers containing a poly(ethylene oxide) block and a polyolefin block that includes semicrystalline thermoplastics, such as polyethylene and syndiotactic polystyrene (s‐PS), and elastomers, such as poly(ethylene‐co‐1‐octene) and poly(ethylene‐co‐styrene) random copolymers. The broad choice of polyolefin blocks provides the amphiphilic copolymers with a wide range of thermal properties from high melting temperature ～270 °C to low glass‐transition temperature ～?60 °C. The chemistry involves two reaction steps, including the preparation of a borane group‐terminated polyolefin by the combination of a metallocene catalyst and a borane chain‐transfer agent as well as the interconversion of a borane terminal group to an anionic (? O^?K⁺) terminal group for the subsequent ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene oxide. The overall reaction process resembles a transformation from the metallocene polymerization of α‐olefins to the ring‐opening polymerization of ethylene oxide. The well‐defined reaction mechanisms in both steps provide the diblock copolymer with controlled molecular structure in terms of composition, molecular weight, moderate molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n < 2.5), and absence of homopolymer. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3416–3425, 2002     

Preparation of nanoparticles of double‐hydrophilic PEO‐PHEMA block copolymers by AGET ATRP in inverse miniemulsion

Atom transfer radical polymerization with activators generated by electron transfer initiating/catalytic system (AGET ATRP) of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was carried out in inverse miniemulsion. Water‐soluble ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and mono‐ and difunctional poly(ethylene oxide)‐based bromoisobutyrate (PEO‐Br) as a macroinitiator were used in the presence of CuBr₂/tris[(2‐pyridyl)methyl]amine (TPMA) and CuCl₂/TPMA complexes. The use of poly(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) as a polymer surfactant resulted in the formation of stable HEMA cyclohexane inverse dispersion and PHEMA colloidal particles. All polymerizations were well‐controlled, allowing for the preparation of well‐defined PEO‐PHEMA and PHEMA‐PEO‐PHEMA block copolymers with relatively high molecular weight (DP > 200) and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n < 1.3). These block copolymers self‐assembled to form micellar nanoparticles being 10–20 nm in diameter with uniform size distribution, and aggregation number of ～10 confirmed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4764–4772, 2007     

Synthesis of superparamagnetic and thermoresponsive hybrid nanoparticles via surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization of di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate and (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate

A reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent was directly anchored onto superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (SPNPs) in a simple procedure using a ligand exchange reaction of 2‐[(dodecylsulfanylcarbonylthiolsulfanyl) propionic acid] (DCPA) with oleic acid initially present on the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The DCPA‐modified SPNPs were then used for the surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization of di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate and (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate to fabricate structurally well‐defined hybrid SPNPs with temperature‐responsive poly[di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate‐co‐(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] shell and magnetic Fe₃O₄ core. Evidence of a well‐controlled surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization was gained from a linear increase of number‐average molecular weight with overall monomer conversions and relatively narrow polydispersity indices of the copolymers grown from the SPNPs. The resultant hybrid nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic property with a saturation magnetization of 55.1–19.4 emu/g and showed a temperature‐responsive phenomenon as the temperature changed between 25 and 40 ^°C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3420–3428     

The effect of structure on the thermoresponsive nature of well‐defined poly(oligo(ethylene oxide) methacrylates) synthesized by ATRP

Statistical copolymers of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MEO₂MA) and tri(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MEO₃MA) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) providing copolymers with controlled composition and molecular weights ranging from M_n = 8,300–56,500 with polydispersity indexes (M_w/M_n) between 1.19 and 1.28. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the copolymers increased with the mole fraction of MEO₃MA in the copolymer over the range from 26 to 52 °C. The average hydrodynamic diameter, measured by dynamic light scattering, varied with temperature above the LCST. These two monomers were also block copolymerized by ATRP to form polymers with molecular weight of M_n = 30,000 and M_w/M_n from 1.12 to 1.21. The LCST of the block copolymers shifted toward the LCST of the major segment, as compared to the value measured for the statistical copolymers at the same composition. As temperature increased, micelles, consisting of aggregated PMEO₂MA cores and PMEO₃MA shell, were formed. The micelles aggregated upon further heating to precipitate as larger particles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 194–202, 2008     

Styrene polymerization with some new macro or macromonomeric azoinitiators having peg units

Several new macroinitiators and macromerinitiators (macroinimers) were synthesized and evaluated for the bulk polymerization of sytrene at 60°C. Macroinitiators were prepared from the reaction of 4,4′-dicyano-4,4′ azovaleryl chloride ( 1 ) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with a M_ω of 400 and with either benzoyl chloride, acetyl chloride, phenyl isocyanate, or poly(ethylene glycol) oleyl ether. Macromer initiators were also prepared from the reaction of 1 with PEG having M_ω values of 200, 400, 600, 1000, or 1500 and with 4-vinylbenzyl chloride. The bulk polymerization of styrene by macroinimers gave crosslinked styrene-PEG block copolymers, while the polymerization by macroinitiators gave soluble copolymers. The molecular weights of the styrene-PEG block copolymers obtained with macroinitiators having either oleyl, benzoyl, or phenyl urethane end groups were 22000–29000 g/mol. DSC measurements showed that the crosslinked block copolymers had crystalline PEG units with melting transitions ranging from 11–37°C. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of Poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate)-polyisobutylene ABCBA Pentablock Copolymers by Combining Quasiliving Carbocationic and Atom Transfer Radical Polymerizations and Characterization Thereof

Novel, unique amphiphilic pentablock terpolymers consisting of the highly hydrophobic polyisobutylene (PIB) mid-segment attached to the hydrophilic combshaped poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PPEGMA) polymacromonomer chains, which are coupled to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) outer segments were synthesized by the combination of quasiliving carbocationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). First, a bifunctional PIB macroinitiator was prepared by quasiliving carbocationic polymerization and subsequent quantitative chain end derivatizations. Quasiliving ATRP of PEGMAs with different molecular weights (M_n = 188, 300 and 475 g/mol) led to triblock copolymers which were further reacted with MMA under ATRP conditions to obtain PMMA-PPEGMA-PIB-PPEGMA-PMMA ABCBA-type pentablock copolymers. It was found that slow initiation takes place between the PIB macroinitiator and PEGMA macromonomers with higher molecular weights via ATRP. ATRP of MMA with the resulting block copolymers composed of PIB and PPEGMA chain segments led to the desired block copolymers with high initiating efficiency. Investigations of the resulting pentablock copolymers by DSC, SAXS and phase mode AFM revealed that nanophase separation occurs in these new macromolecular structures with average domain distances of 11-14 nm, and local lamellar self-assembly takes place in the pentablocks with PPEGMA polymacromonomer segments of PEGMAs with M_n of 118 g/mol and 300 g/mol, while disordered nanophases are observed in the block copolymer with PEGMA having molecular weight of 475 g/mol. These new amphiphilic block copolymers composed of biocompatible chain segments can find applications in a variety of advanced fields.     

Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined diblock and triblock copolymers of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(ethylene oxide)

Well‐defined diblock and triblock copolymers composed of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were successfully synthesized through the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) with PEO capped with one or two dithiobenzoyl groups as a macrotransfer agent. ¹H NMR, Fourier transform infrared, and gel permeation chromatography instruments were used to characterize the block copolymers obtained. The results showed that the diblock and triblock copolymers had well‐defined structures and narrow molecular weight distributions (weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight < 1.2), and the molecular weight of the PNIPAM block in the diblock and triblock copolymers could be controlled by the initial molar ratio of NIPAM to dithiobenzoate‐terminated PEO and the NIPAM conversion. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4873–4881, 2004     

Polymer Architectures via Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerization

Various versatile chain transfer agents (CTAs) have been synthesized for reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerzation. Such CTAs have been used to modify hydroxyl containing materials and produce well-controlled molecular architectures such as amphiphilic copolymer from poly (ethylene glycol), AB block copolymer consisting of a biodegradable segment, poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and grafted copolymers of poly (styrene), poly (methyl methacrylate) and poly (methyl acrylate) from cellulose.