Radical heterogeneous polymerization behavior of N‐methyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide in benzene

The polymerization of N‐methyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide (NMFAm) initiated with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) in benzene was studied kinetically and with electron spin resonance. The polymerization proceeded heterogeneously with the highly efficient formation of long‐lived poly(NMFAm) radicals. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was 111 kJ/mol. The polymerization rate (R_p) at 50 °C is given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.75±0.05 [NMFAm]^0.44±0.05. The concentration of the long‐lived polymer radical increased linearly with time. The formation rate (R_p?) of the long‐lived polymer radical at 50 °C is expressed by R_p? = k[MAIB]^1.0±0.1 [NMFAm]^0±0.1. The overall activation energy of the long‐lived radical formation was 128 kJ/mol, which agreed with the energy of initiation (129 kJ/mol), which was separately estimated. A comparison of R_p? with the initiation rate led to the conclusion that 1‐methoxycarbonyl‐1‐methylethyl radicals (primary radicals from MAIB), escaping from the solvent cage, were quantitatively converted into the long‐lived poly(NMFAm) radicals. Thus, this polymerization involves completely unimolecular termination due to polymer radical occlusion. ¹H NMR‐determined tacticities of resulting poly(NMFAm) were estimated to be rr = 0.34, mr = 0.48, and mm = 0.18. The copolymerization of NMFAm(M₁) and St(M₂) with MAIB at 50 °C in benzene gave monomer reactivity ratios of r₁ = 0.61 and r₂ = 1.79. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2196–2205, 2001     

Kinetic study on the radical polymerization of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine

Polymerization of 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) was kinetically investigated in ethanol using dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as initiator. The overall activation energy of the homogeneous polymerization was calculated to be 71 kJ/mol. The polymerization rate (R_p) was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.54±0.05 [MPC]^1.8±0.1. The higher dependence of R_p on the monomer concentration comes from acceleration of propagation due to monomer aggregation and also from retardation of termination due to viscosity effect of the MPC monomer. Rate constants of propagation (k_p) and termination (k_t) of MPC were estimated by means of ESR to be k_p = 180 L/mol · s and k_t = 2.8 × 10⁴ L/mol · s at 60 °C, respectively. Because of much slower termination, R_p of MPC in ethanol was found at 60 °C to be 8 times that of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in benzene, though the different solvents were used for MPC and MMA. Polymerization of MPC with MAIB in ethanol was accelerated by the presence of water and retarded by the presence of benzene or acetonitrile. Poly(MPC) showed a peculiar solubility behavior; although poly(MPC) was highly soluble in ethanol and in water, it was insoluble in aqueous ethanol of water content of 7.4–39.8 vol %. The radical copolymerization of MPC (M₁) and styrene (St) (M₂) in ethanol at 50 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters similar to those of the copolymerization of MMA and St; r₁ = 0.39, r₂ = 0.46, Q₁ = 0.76, and e₁ = +0.51. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 509–515, 2000     

Radical polymerization of vinyl thiocyanatoacetate: Participation of group‐transfer mechanism

Vinyl thiocyanatoacetate (VTCA) was synthesized, and its radical polymerization behavior was studied in acetone with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as an initiator. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) at 60 °C was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.6±0.1 [VTCA]^1.0±0.1 where k is a rate constant. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was 112 kJ/mol. The number‐average molecular weights of the resulting poly (VTCA)s (1.4–1.6 × 10⁴) were almost independent of the concentrations of the initiator and monomer, indicating chain transfer to the monomer. The chain‐transfer constant to the monomer was estimated to be 9.6 × 10^?3 at 60 °C. According to the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of poly (VTCA), the radical polymerization of VTCA proceeded through normal vinyl addition and intramolecular transfer of the cyano group. The cyano group transfer became progressively more important with decreasing monomer concentration. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 573–582, 2002; DOI 10.1002/pola.10137     

Elementary reaction analysis of the radical polymerization of α‐ethyl β‐N‐(α′‐methylbenzyl)itaconamates carrying (RS)‐ and (S)‐α‐methylbenzylaminocarbonyl groups

The polymerizations of α‐ethyl β‐N‐(α′‐methylbenzyl)itaconamates carrying (RS)‐ and (S)‐α‐methylbenzylaminocarbonyl groups (RS‐EMBI and S‐EMBI) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) were studied in methanol (MeOH) and in benzene kinetically and with electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) at 60 °C was given by R_p = k[MAIB]^{0.58 ± 0.05}[RS‐EMBI]^{2.4 ± 0.l} and R_p = k[MAIB]^{0.61 ± 0.05}[S‐EMBI]^{2.3 ± 0.l} in MeOH and R_p = k[MAIB]^{0.54 ± 0.05}[RS‐EMBI]^{1.7 ± 0.l} in benzene. The rate constants of initiation (k_df), propagation (k_p), and termination (k_t) as elementary reactions were estimated by ESR, where k_d is the rate constant of MAIB decomposition and f is the initiator efficiency. The k_p values of RS‐EMBI (0.50–1.27 L/mol s) and S‐EMBI (0.42–1.32 L/mol s) in MeOH increased with increasing monomer concentrations, whereas the k_t values (0.20?7.78 × 10⁵ L/mol s for RS‐EMBI and 0.18?6.27 × 10⁵ L/mol s for S‐EMBI) decreased with increasing monomer concentrations. Such relations of R_p with k_p and k_t were responsible for the unusually high dependence of R_p on the monomer concentration. The activation energies of the elementary reactions were also determined from the values of k_df, k_p, and k_t at different temperatures. R_p and k_p of RS‐EMBI and S‐EMBI in benzene were considerably higher than those in MeOH. R_p of RS‐EMBI was somewhat higher than that of S‐EMBI in both MeOH and benzene. Such effects of the kinds of solvents and monomers on R_p were explicable in terms of the different monomer associations, as analyzed by ¹H NMR. The copolymerization of RS‐EMBI with styrene was examined at 60 °C in benzene. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1819–1830, 2003     

Kinetic study of the radical polymerization behavior of N‐(1‐phenylethylaminocarbonyl)methacrylamide

Polymerization of N‐(1‐phenylethylaminocarbonyl)methacrylamide (PEACMA) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was kinetically studied in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The overall activation energy of the polymerization was estimated to be 84 kJ/mol. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) is given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.6[PEACMA]^0.9 at 60 °C, being similar to that of the conventional radical polymerization. The polymerization system involved electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopically observable propagating poly(PEACMA) radical under the actual polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined rate constants of propagation and termination were 140 L/mol s and 3.4 × 10⁴ L/mol s at 60 °C, respectively. The addition of LiCl accelerated the polymerization in N,N‐dimethylformamide but did not in DMSO. The copolymerization of PEACMA(M₁) and styrene(M₂) with MAIB in DMSO at 60 °C gave the following copolymerization parameters; r₁ = 0.20, r₂ = 0.51, Q₁ = 0.59, and e₁ = +0.70. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2013–2020, 2005     

Kinetic and ESR studies on the radical polymerization of α‐n‐(α′‐methylbenzyl) β‐ethyl itaconamates derived from racemic and (s)‐α‐methylbenzylamines

The polymerization of α‐N‐(α′‐methylbenzyl) β‐ethyl itaconamate derived from racemic α‐methylbenzylamine (RS‐MBEI) by initiation with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was studied in methanol kinetically and with ESR spectroscopy. The overall activation energy of polymerization was calculated to be 47 kJ/mol, a very low value. The polymerization rate (R_p ) at 60 °C was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.5±0.05[RS‐MBEI]^2.9±0.1. The rate constants of propagation (k_p ) and termination (k_t ) were determined by ESR. k_p was very low, ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 L/mol s, and increased with the monomer concentration, whereas k_t (4–17 × l0⁴ L/mol s) decreased with the monomer concentration. Such behaviors of k_p and k_t were responsible for the high dependence of R_p on the monomer concentration. R_p depended considerably on the solvent used. S‐MBEI, derived from (S)‐α‐methylbenzylamine, showed somewhat lower homopolymerizability than RS‐MBEI. The k_p value of RS‐MBEI at 60 °C in benzene was 1.5 times that of S‐MBEI. This was explicable in terms of the different molecular associations of RS‐MBEI and S‐MBEI, as analyzed by ¹H NMR. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4137–4146, 2000     

Simultaneous control of the stereospecificity and molecular weight in the ruthenium‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of methyl and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylates and sequential synthesis of stereoblock polymers

The stereospecific living radical polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were achieved with a combination of ruthenium‐catalyzed living radical and solvent‐mediated stereospecific radical polymerizations. Among a series of ruthenium complexes [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃, Ru(Ind)Cl(PPh₃)₂, and RuCp*Cl(PPh₃)₂], Cp*–ruthenium afforded poly(methyl methacrylate) with highly controlled molecular weights [weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (M_w/M_n) = 1.08] and high syndiotacticity (r = 88%) in a fluoroalcohol such as (CF₃)₂C(Ph)OH at 0 °C. On the other hand, a hydroxy‐functionalized monomer, HEMA, was polymerized with RuCp*Cl(PPh₃)₂ in N,N‐dimethylformamide and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMA) to give syndiotactic polymers (r = 87–88%) with controlled molecular weights (M_w/M_n = 1.12–1.16). This was the first example of the syndiospecific living radical polymerization of HEMA. A fluoroalcohol [(CF₃)₂C(Ph)OH], which induced the syndiospecific radical polymerization of MMA, reduced the syndiospecificity in the HEMA polymerization to result in more or less atactic polymers (mm/mr/rr = 7.2/40.9/51.9%) with controlled molecular weights in the presence of RuCp*Cl(PPh₃)₂ at 80 °C. A successive living radical polymerization of HEMA in two solvents, first DMA followed by (CF₃)₂C(Ph)OH, resulted in stereoblock poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with syndiotactic–atactic segments. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3609–3615, 2006     

Kinetic and ESR studies on radical polymerization behavior of N‐(2‐phenylethoxycarbonyl)methacrylamide

Polymerization of N‐(2‐phenylethoxycarbonyl)methacrylamide (PECMA) with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was investigated in tetrahydrofuran (THF) kinetically and by means of electron spin resonance (ESR). The overall activation energy of the polymerization was calculated to be 58 kJ/mol. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) is expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.3[PECMA]^2.3 at 60 °C. Such unusual kinetics may be ascribable to primary radical termination and to acceleration of propagation due to monomer association. Propagating poly(PECMA) radical was observed as a 13‐line spectrum by ESR under practical polymerization conditions. ESR‐determined rate constants of propagation (k_p, 4.7–10.5 L/mol s) and termination (k_t, 4.6 × 10⁴ L/ml s) at 60 °C are much lower than those of methacrylamide and methacrylate esters. The Arrhenius plots of k_p and k_t gave activation energies of propagation (24 kJ/mol) and termination (25 kJ/mol). The copolymerizations of PECMA with styrene (St) and acrylonitrile were examined at 60 °C in THF. Copolymerization parameters obtained for the PECMA (M₁) − St(M₂) system are as follows: r₁ = 0.58, r₂ = 0.60, Q₁ = 0.73, and e₁ = +0.22. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4264–4271, 2000     

Kinetic and ESR studies on radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of fullerene

The effect of fullerene (C₆₀) on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in benzene was studied kinetically and by means of ESR, where dimethyl 2,2′-azobis(isobutyrate) (MAIB) was used as initiator. The polymerization rate (R_p) and the molecular weight of resulting poly(MMA) decreased with increasing C₆₀ concentration ((0–2.11) × 10⁻⁴ mol/L). The molecular weight of polymer tended to increase with time at higher C₆₀ concentrations. R_p at 50°C in the presence of C₆₀ (7.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L) was expressed by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.5[MMA]^1.25. The overall activation energy of polymerization at 7.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L of C₆₀ concentration was calculated to be 23.2 kcal/mol. Persistent fullerene radicals were observed by ESR in the polymerization system. The concentration of fullerene radicals was found to increase linearly with time and then be saturated. The rate of fullerene radical formation increased with MAIB concentration. Thermal polymerization of styrene (St) in the presence of resulting poly(MMA) seemed to yield a starlike copolymer carrying poly(MMA) and poly(St) arms. The results (r₁ = 0.53, r₂ = 0.56) of copolymerization of MMA and St with MAIB at 60°C in the presence of C₆₀ (7.15 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L) were similar to those (r₁ = 0.46, r₂ = 0.52) in the absence of C₆₀. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2905–2912, 1998     

Synthesis of poly(β‐pinene)‐g‐poly(meth)acrylate by the combination of living cationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

New graft copolymers of β‐pinene with methyl methacrylate (MMA) or butyl acrylate (BA) were synthesized by the combination of living cationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). β‐Pinene polymers with predetermined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) were prepared by living cationic polymerization with the 1‐phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Ti(OiPr)₄/nBu₄NCl initiating system, and the resultant polymers were brominated quantitatively by N‐bromosuccinamide in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile, yielding poly(β‐pinene) macroinitiators with different bromine contents (Br/β‐pinene unit molar ratio = 1.0 and 0.5 for macroinitiators a and b , respectively). The macroinitiators, in conjunction with CuBr and 2,2′‐bipyridine, were used to initiate ATRP of BA or MMA. With macroinitiator a or b , the bulk polymerization of BA induced a linear first‐order kinetic plot and gave graft copolymers with controlled molecular weights and MWDs; this indicated the living nature of these polymerizations. The bulk polymerization of MMA initiated with macroinitiator a was completed instantaneously and induced insoluble gel products. However, the controlled polymerization of MMA was achieved with macroinitiator b in toluene and resulted in the desired graft copolymers with controlled molecular weights and MWDs. The structures of the obtained graft copolymers of β‐pinene with (methyl)methacrylate were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectra. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1237–1242, 2003     

Conventional radical polymerization and iodine‐transfer polymerization of 4′‐nonafluorobutyl styrene: Surface and thermal characterizations of the resulting poly(fluorostyrene)s

4′‐Nonafluorobutylstyrene (3) was synthesized and polymerized by conventional and controlled radical polymerization (iodine transfer polymerization (ITP)). Such an aromatic fluoromonomer was prepared from Ullmann coupling between 1‐iodoperfluorobutane and 4‐bromoacetophenone followed by a reduction and a dehydration in 50% overall yield. Two radical polymerizations of (3) were initiated by AIBN either under conventional or controlled conditions, with 1‐iodoperfluorohexane in 84% monomer conversion and in 50% yield. ITP of (3) featured a fast monomer conversion and a linear evolution of the ln([M]₀/[M]) versus time. The kinetics of radical homopolymerization of (3) enabled one to assess its square of the propagation rate to the termination rate (k_p²/k_t) in ITP conditions (36.2·10^?2 l·mol^?2·sec^?2 at 80 °C) from the Tobolsky's kinetic law. Polydispersity index (?) of the fluoropolymer achieved by conventional polymerization was 1.30 while it worthed 1.15 when synthesized by ITP. Thermal stabilities of these oligomers were satisfactory (10% weight loss under air occurred from 305 °C) whereas the melting point was 47 °C. Contact angles and surface energies assessed from spin‐coated poly(3) films obtained by conventional (hysteresis = 18°, surface energy 18 mN.m^?1) and ITP (hysteresis = 47°, surface energy 15 mN.m^?1) evidenced ? values' influence onto surface properties of the synthesized polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3202–3212     

A facile strategy for synthesis of α,α′‐heterobifunctionalized poly (ε‐caprolactones) and poly (methyl methacrylate)s containing “clickable” aldehyde and allyloxy functional groups using initiator approach

Two new initiators, namely, 4‐(4‐(2‐(4‐(allyloxy) phenyl)‐5‐hydroxypentane 2‐yl) phenoxy)benzaldehyde and 4‐(4‐(allyloxy) phenyl)‐4‐(4‐(4‐formylphenoxy) phenyl) pentyl 2‐bromo‐2‐methyl propanoate containing “clickable” hetero‐functionalities namely aldehyde and allyloxy were synthesized starting from commercially available 4,4′‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl) pentanoic acid. These initiators were utilized, respectively, for ring opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone and atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Well‐defined α‐aldehyde, α′‐allyloxy heterobifunctionalized poly(ε‐caprolactones) (M_n,GPC: 5900–29,000, PDI: 1.26–1.43) and poly(methyl methacrylate)s (M_n,GPC: 5300–28800, PDI: 1.19–1.25) were synthesized. The kinetic study of methyl methacrylate polymerization demonstrated controlled polymerization behavior. The presence of aldehyde and allyloxy functionality on polymers was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Aldehyde‐aminooxy and thiol‐ene metal‐free double click strategy was used to demonstrate reactivity of functional groups on polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis of a new 2‐amino‐glycan,poly‐(1→6)‐α‐D‐mannosamine,by ring‐opening polymerization of 1,6‐anhydro‐mannosamine derivatives

A stereoregular 2‐amino‐glycan composed of a mannosamine residue was prepared by ring‐opening polymerization of anhydro sugars. Two different monomers, 1,6‐anhydro‐2‐azido‐mannose derivative ( 3 ) and 1,6‐anhydro‐2‐(N, N‐dibenzylamino)‐mannose derivative ( 6 ), were synthesized and polymerized. Although 3 gave merely oligomers, 6 was promptly polymerized into high polymers of the number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of 2.3 × 10⁴ to 2.9 × 10⁴ with 1,6‐α stereoregularity. The differences of polymerizability of 3 and 6 from those of the corresponding glucose homologs were discussed. It was found that an N‐benzyl group is exceedingly suitable for protecting an amino group in the polymerization of anhydro sugars of a mannosamine type. The simultaneous removal of O‐ and N‐benzyl groups of the resulting polymers was achieved by using sodium in liquid ammonia to produce the first 2‐amino‐glycan, poly‐(1→6)‐α‐D ‐mannosamine, having high molecular weight through ring‐opening polymerization of anhydro sugars.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of well‐defined poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐styrene)‐graft‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) by sequential controlled polymerization

A new graft copolymer, poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐styrene) ‐graft‐poly(?‐caprolactone), was prepared by combination of reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) with coordination‐insertion ring‐opening polymerization (ROP). The copolymerization of styrene (St) and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was carried out at 60 °C in the presence of 2‐phenylprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate (PPDTB) using AIBN as initiator. The molecular weight of poly (2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐styrene) [poly(HEMA‐co‐St)] increased with the monomer conversion, and the molecular weight distribution was in the range of 1.09 ～ 1.39. The ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ?‐caprolactone was then initiated by the hydroxyl groups of the poly(HEMA‐co‐St) precursors in the presence of stannous octoate (Sn(Oct)₂). GPC and ¹H‐NMR data demonstrated the polymerization courses are under control, and nearly all hydroxyl groups took part in the initiation. The efficiency of grafting was very high. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5523–5529, 2004     

Catalytic effect of dimethyl sulfoxide in the Cu(0)/tris(2‐dimethylaminoethyl)amine‐catalyzed living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate at 0–90 °C initiated with CH3CHClI as a model compound for α,ω‐di(iodo)poly(vinyl chloride) chain ends

A variety of conditions, including catalysts [CuCl, CuI, Cu₂O, and Cu(0)], ligands [2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy), tris(2‐dimethylaminoethyl)amine (Me₆‐TREN), polyethyleneimine, and hexamethyl triethylenetetramine], initiators [CH₃CHClI, CH₂I₂, CHI₃, and F(CF₂)₈I], solvents [diphenyl ether, toluene, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide, ethylene carbonate, dimethylacetamide, and cyclohexanone], and temperatures [90, 25, and 0 °C] were studied to assess previous methods for poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐poly(vinyl chloride)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA‐b‐PVC‐b‐PMMA) synthesis by the living radical block copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated with α,ω‐di(iodo)poly(vinyl chloride). CH₃CHClI was used as a model for α,ω‐di(iodo)poly(vinyl chloride) employed as a macroinitiator in the living radical block copolymerization of MMA. Two groups of methods evolved. The first involved CuCl/bpy or Me₆‐TREN at 90 °C, whereas the second involved Cu(0)/Me₆‐TREN in DMSO at 25 or 0 °C. Related ligands were used in both methods. The highest initiator efficiency and rate of polymerization were obtained with Cu(0)/Me₆‐TREN in DMSO at 25 °C. This demonstrated that the ultrafast block copolymerization reported previously is the most efficient with respect to the rate of polymerization and precision of the PMMA‐b‐PVC‐b‐PMMA architecture. Moreover, Cu(0)/Me₆‐TREN‐catalyzed polymerization exhibits an external first order of reaction in DMSO, and so this solvent has a catalytic effect in this living radical polymerization (LRP). This polymerization can be performed between 90 and 0 °C and provides access to controlled poly(methyl methacrylate) tacticity by LRP and block copolymerization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1935–1947, 2005     

Synthesis of biocompatible and biodegradable block copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) using metal‐free living cationic polymerization

Applications of metal‐free living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers using HCl · Et₂O are reported. Product of poly(vinyl ether)s possessing functional end groups such as hydroxyethyl groups with predicted molecular weights was used as a macroinitiator in activated monomer cationic polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) with HCl · Et₂O as a ring‐opening polymerization. This combination method is a metal‐free polymerization using HCl · Et₂O. The formation of poly(isobutyl vinyl ether)‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PIBVE‐b‐PCL) and poly(tert‐butyl vinyl ether)‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PTBVE‐b‐PCL) from two vinyl ethers and CL was successful. Therefore, we synthesized novel amphiphilic, biocompatible, and biodegradable block copolymers comprised polyvinyl alcohol and PCL, namely PVA‐b‐PCL by transformation of acid hydrolysis of tert‐butoxy moiety of PTBVE in PTBVE‐b‐PCL. The synthesized copolymers showed well‐defined structure and narrow molecular weight distribution. The structure of resulting block copolymers was confirmed by ¹H NMR, size exclusion chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5169–5179, 2009     

Conducting graft copolymers of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) with pyrrole and thiophene

A thiophene‐functionalized methacrylate monomer (3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) was synthesized via the esterification of 3‐thiophene methanol with methacryloyl chloride. The methacrylate monomer was polymerized by free‐radical polymerization in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. Graft copolymers of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) (PMTM2) and polypyrrole and of PMTM2 and polythiophene were synthesized by constant‐potential electrolyses. p‐Toluene sulfonic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, and tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate were used as the supporting electrolytes. PMTM2‐coated platinum electrodes were used as anodes in the polymerization of pyrrole and thiophene. Moreover, the oxidative polymerization of poly(3‐methylthienyl methacrylate) (PMTM1) was studied with FeCl₃ as the oxidant. The self‐polymerization of PMTM1 was also investigated by galvanostatic electrolysis both in dichloromethane and in propylene carbonate. The structures of PMTM1 and PMTM2 were investigated by several spectroscopic and thermal methods. The grafting process was elucidated with conductivity measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy studies. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4131–4140, 2002     

Radical polymerization behavior of ethyl ortho-formylphenyl fumarate involving intramolecular hydrogen abstraction

The radical polymerization behavior of ethyl ortho-formyl-phenyl fumarate (EFPF) using dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as initiator was studied in benzene kinetically and ESR spectroscopically. The polymerization rate (R_p) at 60°C was given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.76[EFPF]^0.56. The number-average molecular weight of poly(EFPF) was in the range of 1600–2900. EFPF was also easily photopolymerized at room temperature without any photosensitizer probably because of the photosensitivity of the formyl group of monomer. Analysis of ¹H? and ¹³C-NMR spectra of the resulting polymer revealed that the radical polymerization of EFPF proceeds in a complicated manner involving vinyl addition and intramolecular hydrogen-abstraction. The polymerization system was found to involve ESR-observable poly(EFPF) radicals under the actual polymerization conditions. ESR-determined rate constant (2.4–4.0 L/mol s) of propagation at 60°C increased with decreasing monomer concentration, which is mainly responsible for the observed low de-pendency of R_p on the EFPF concentration. Copolymerizations of EFPF with some vinyl monomers were also examined. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of well‐defined cyclodextrin‐core star polymers

The synthesis of 21‐arm methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene star polymers is reported. The copper (I)‐mediated living radical polymerization of MMA was carried out with a cyclodextrin‐core‐based initiator with 21 independent discrete initiation sites: heptakis[2,3,6‐tri‐O‐(2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyl]‐β‐cyclodextrin. Living polymerization occurred, providing well‐defined 21‐arm star polymers with predicted molecular weights calculated from the initiator concentration and the consumed monomer as well as low polydispersities [e.g., poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 55,700, polydispersity index (PDI) = 1.07; M_n = 118,000, PDI = 1.06; polystyrene, M_n = 37,100, PDI = 1.15]. Functional methacrylate monomers containing poly(ethylene glycol), a glucose residue, and a tert‐amine group in the side chain were also polymerized in a similar fashion, leading to hydrophilic star polymers, again with good control over the molecular weight and polydispersity (M_n = 15,000, PDI = 1.03; M_n = 36,500, PDI = 1.14; and M_n = 139,000, PDI = 1.09, respectively). When styrene was used as the monomer, it was difficult to obtain well‐defined polystyrene stars at high molecular weights. This was due to the increased occurrence of side reactions such as star–star coupling and thermal (spontaneous) polymerization; however, low‐polydispersity polymers were achieved at relatively low conversions. Furthermore, a star block copolymer consisting of PMMA and poly(butyl methacrylate) was successfully synthesized with a star PMMA as a macroinitiator (M_n = 104,000, PDI = 1.05). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2206–2214, 2001     

Bis(β‐ketoamino)copper(II)/methylaluminoxane systems for homo‐ and copolymerizations of methyl acrylate and 1‐hexene

Two bis(β‐ketoamino)copper [ArNC(CH₃)CHC(CH₃)O]₂Cu ( 1 , Ar = 2,6‐dimethylphenyl; 2 , Ar = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl) complexes were synthesized and characterized. Homo‐ and copolymerizations of methyl acrylate (MA) and 1‐hexene with bis(β‐ketoamino)copper(II) complexes activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO) were investigated in detail. MA was polymerized in high conversion (>72%) to produce the syndio‐rich atactic poly(methyl acrylate), but 1‐hexene was not polymerized with copper complexes/MAO. Copolymerizations of MA and 1‐hexene with 1 , 2 /MAO produced acrylate‐enriched copolymers (MA > 80%) with isolated hexenes in the backbone. The calculation of reactivity ratios showed that r(MA) is 8.47 and r(hexene) is near to 0 determined by a Fineman‐Ross method. The polymerization mechanism was discussed, and an insertion‐triggered radical mechanism was also proposed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1113–1121, 2010